SUMMER CRUISE SAILS TO VICTORY IN MANATEE STAKES
OLDSMAR, Fla. (February 3, 2007) Summer Cruise won the twenty-third renewal of the $60,000 Manatee Stakes today, running the seven furlongs in 1:25.43. Summer Cruise, who is jointly owned by Gasparilla Stables, LLC and William Farish, and trained by Michael Zwiesler, settled behind leaders Sparking Pink Excellerant and Zooming By along the backstretch.
Summer Cruise then made awide move around the turn and took the lead in the stretch, winning the race by 1 ¾ lengths before a crowd of 4,123. Gadolinium, who is trained by Manuel Criollo and owned by George I. Elso was second and Zooming By rounded out the trifecta that returned $726.60 for a $2 wager.
“Yes, definitely, I was very confident” said jockey Carlos Montalvo of his second stakes victory aboard the filly this year. “I was very confident in the way she settled in last time, and thought she would like the distance better. When I asked her to go the response was unbelievable.”
Conditioner Michael Zwiesler said, “I didn’t think the distance would be a problem for her. She was training well after the last race, and had a little time off so I liked the added distance.” He added, “Carlos (Montalvo) rode the filly perfectly in both races (The Minaret and The Manatee). He really gave it 100%.” As for Summer Cruise’s future plans, Zwiesler says, “We’ll see how she comes out of this race, but we could enter The Wayward Lass. She likes it here, so that could be a possibility.”
“There were some good horses in that field” said Summer Cruise’s owner Dick Nielson, “She has a lot of heart, and obviously does well here. We’re four for four here, including her maiden win; three weeks after that, she won by eight (lengths).”
Tampa Bay Downs also recorded a co-mingled mutuel handle of $6,234,336 for the Saturday card, the fourth largest in the history of the Oldsmar oval. “The day before the Super Bowl has always been strong for us,” said Peter Berube, Vice President and General Manager of Tampa Bay Downs, “and we benefited from the cancellation of Oaklawn and the second part of the Aqueduct card today to help make it a record-setting day.”
Finish Lines… A new record was set in the Tampa Bay Downs claims office when Western Night, a five-year-old son of Southern Halo, attracted bids from ten separate parties. Western Night went on to win the 6 ½ furlong race, and was afterward transferred to the stable of Lonnie Arterburn, winner of the ten-way shake. Mike Allen, Western Night’s reinsman is now one win closer to the milestone of 1,500 victories with 1494 career wins.
Jockey Luis A. Gonzalez today won three races, starting with the day’s opener aboard My Monarchos. The Florida-bred son of Wavering Monarch is owned by R. J.s Racing Stable and is trained by top conditioner Gerald Bennett. Gonzalez’s next victory came on Tanyard Hill, a three-year-old chestnut colt trained by Darrin Miller and Silverton Hill LLC. Gonzalez rounded out his hat trick aboard The Lady Waffles. The win was the third consecutive victory for the pair at Tampa Bay Downs this racing season. The Lady Waffles is owned by Pyrite Stables and Miguel A. Feliciano is her conditioner.
Racing resumes tomorrow with a ten-race card. Gates will open at 11:00 AM and the post time for the first race is 12:25 PM. The Silks Card Room will remain open from noon through midnight.