Throughout much of his career, 8-year-old gelding Extrasexybigdaddee has been afflicted with a case of “second-itis,” having finished as the runner-up in 17 of his 50 lifetime starts entering today’s second leg of the Tampa Turf Test starter handicap series for Males.
With help from jockey Antonio Gallardo, the Pennsylvania-bred made sure it didn’t happen again.
Reserved early by Gallardo from the No. 1 post position and kept within striking distance of the leaders before being angled outside at the top of the stretch, Extrasexybigdaddee responded with a determined burst to defeat Take Me To Church by a half-length in the seventh race on the program. The 2-1 favorite in the 12-horse field, Eldest Son, finished third.
It was the ninth victory for Extrasexybigdaddee, who paid $56 to win after completing the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance in 1:43.54. And the surprising result virtually guaranteed that for the second day this week, there would be a carryover jackpot heading into the next day’s late Pick 5 wager.
No one correctly selected the 11-10-1-4-11 combination over today’s final five races, meaning Sunday’s late 50-cent Pick 5 wager will start with $80,016 in the pool. The late Pick 5 begins with the fifth race.
Extrasexybigdaddee is owned by the aptly named, in this case, Long Shot Racing Stables and trained by Scooter Davis.
In the second leg of the Fillies and Mares Division of the Tampa Turf Test, contested as the ninth race, 5-year-old mare Kindred Hearts – another Pennsylvania-bred – sped past the leaders in deep stretch under an expertly-timed ride from Cipriano Gil to defeat Katies a Lady by a length-and-a-half. Tell Me Some Lies finished third in the 11-horse field.
Gregg Sacco trains Kindred Hearts for owner Joseph Imbesi. The victory was the fourth from 10 starts for the winner, who had scored in her first-ever race at Tampa Bay Downs on the turf on Nov. 28. She paid $13.80 to win today after completing the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance in 1:42.38.
The late Pick 5 got off to a rollicking start when a 24-1 shot, Mo Trump, won the fifth race on the turf for trainer M. Anthony Ferraro and jockey Jesus Castanon.
Around the oval. Samy Camacho won back-to-back races today. The five-time track riding champion won the third race on Call Shadd, a 4-year-old colt owned by George W. Parrish, Jr., and trained by Anthony Granitz. Camacho added the fourth race aboard Just Relax, a 4-year-old Florida-bred colt owned and trained by Juan Arriagada.
Thoroughbred racing continues Sunday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:30 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs races on a Wednesday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule, with a pair of Thursday cards scheduled on Feb. 5 and Feb. 12. The track is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf instruction and pleasure at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.
“Cap Giveaway Day” is next Saturday. As the track’s 100-year anniversary nears, supporters of Tampa Bay Downs can display their loyalties by attending the races on Saturday, Jan. 24, which is the annual “Cap Giveaway Day.”
All patrons will receive the centennial black cap with gold lettering against the Tampa Bay Downs 100 logo – certain to be a collector’s item – with their paid admission, while supplies last. Encircling the logo are the words “100 Years of Thoroughbred Racing,” and directly below, the years “1926-2026.”
Tampa Bay Downs jockeys will be on hand to sign the caps for fans desiring autographs.
“Cap Giveaway Day” kicks off a fun-filled weekend that will also be highlighted by the first “Mouse’s Kids & Family Days” celebration on Jan. 25. Fans of all ages get to meet track mascot Mouse the Miniature Horse, while youngsters can choose between bounce houses, pony rides and a variety of games and special activities.
Buzzy’s Food Truck will also be on the scene.
Thoroughbred racing was first conducted on the site (then known as Tampa Downs, under the aegis of the West Coast Jockey Club), on Feb. 18, 1926, and all fans attending the Wednesday, Feb. 18 card will receive a season’s Grandstand pass for the 2026-27 meet free of charge (a $100 value).
Check this space again for news of other centennial season promotions and special events.
