OLDSMAR, Fla (February 13, 2007) Conditioner Dale Bennett celebrated two wins on today’s card, moving him into third leading trainer position with fourteen wins for the Tampa Bay Downs meet thus far.  He is currently only two victories behind co-leading trainers Lynne Scace and Gerald Bennett, who is Dale’s father.

Dale Bennett won his first race today with Ladyinblue, a gray or roan mare who is owned by Montesano Racing LLC and ridden by Daniel Centeno.  The team of Bennett and Montesano scored again in the fifth race with the Jose Ferrer-piloted Iron Willful, a Florida-bred son of Slew Gin Fizz.

Centeno’s victory with Bennett was the first of three on the card today; he has now notched 75 wins out of his 297 starts in the 43 days of the Tampa Bay Downs season.  Centeno is, as of today, the leading the nation’s jockey statistics by ten wins. 

Centeno’s second victory of the day came aboard Scaife Road, a bay filly owned by Ian Banwell and saddled by Philip J. Oliver.  The reinsman closed out his hat trick piloting Future Drama under the wire; the son of Distorted Humor is owned and trained by Charles Fontana.

Live racing and poker resume Thursday, February 15.  Tampa Bay Downs gates will open at 11:00 AM and post time for the first race will be at 12:25 PM.  The Silks Card Room will offer live poker tournaments from noon through midnight.