Thoroughbred racing continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:19 p.m. Racing will be conducted Saturday, as well, before Tampa Bay Downs closes for Easter on Sunday. The track will then resume its Wednesday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule on April 3, with action ongoing through Saturday, May 4 (Kentucky Derby Day).
On today’s card, the ninth and final race was cancelled by a severe rain and lightning storm.
Saturday’s 10-race card includes the fourth and final legs of the Tampa Turf Test starter handicap series, with separate divisions for females and males. Both the second race, for older fillies and mares, and the sixth, for older colts and geldings, will be contested at a distance of a mile-and-three-eighths.
In the Fillies and Mares Division, 5-year-old Paper Mansion, owned by Jagger Inc. and Longball Stables and trained by Jamie Ness, will vie for her fourth consecutive Tampa Turf Test victory and sixth overall. Kevin Gomez is the rider.
Paper Mansion will carry 127 pounds, giving 9-to-13 to her five rivals.
Ness also has the highweight (121 pounds) and probable favorite among the males with 6-year-old American Unity, whom he owns under his Jagger banner in partnership with Morris E. Kernan, Jr. Antonio Gallardo will ride. American Unity is 1-for-3 in the Tampa Turf Test with two thirds, and has won six of his last nine starts.
On today’s card, trainer David VanWinkle and jockey Chad Lindsay combined for back-to-back victories. They won the fourth race with first-time starter Rock Me Amadeus, a 3-year-old filly owned by C and R Racing. VanWinkle and Lindsay added the fifth on the turf with 3-year-old filly Retired Kathy, a homebred racing for owner Peter D. Mattson.
Pablo Morales rode two winners today. He teamed with 4-year-old Florida-bred colt Final Verdict to capture the third race for owners Patrick Mogauro, Jr., and James Mogauro and trainer John Rigattieri. Morales added the eighth on Hercules, a 6-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned and trained by Joel Campbell. Hercules was claimed from the race for $10,000 by new owner-trainer Gerald James.
In the seventh race, Campbell, as owner and trainer, sent out 5-year-old gelding Stronger Together to win under jockey Jesus Castanon.
With the exception of Easter, Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.
