Two-year-olds of both sexes will vie for the spotlight Saturday as Tampa Bay Downs launches its 2025-26 stakes schedule with the 40th running of the $125,000 Inaugural Stakes for males and the 48th edition of the $125,000 Sandpiper Stakes for fillies.
All but one of Saturday’s 10 races are for 2-year-olds, who like all Thoroughbreds will become a year older on Jan. 1 for record-keeping purposes. Both the Inaugural and the Sandpiper will be run at the sprint distance of 6 furlongs.
Post time for the first race is 12:30 p.m. The Inaugural is the second race and the Sandpiper is the ninth race.
The Inaugural has drawn a field of seven. Much interest surrounds Solitude Dude, whose lone career start on Nov. 1 in a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park resulted in a 9 ½-length victory in a time of 1:16.40 for 6 ½ furlongs. The Kentucky-bred colt is owned by Chris Fountoukis and trained by Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
Edgard Zayas, who was the leading jockey at Gulfstream’s recently concluded fall meet, has been named to ride Solitude Dude, who breaks from the outside No. 7 post.
Handicappers are expected to take a close look at Joseph’s other Inaugural entry Langvad, who broke his maiden in his second career start on Nov. 8 at Gulfstream in a 7-furlong maiden special weight and will start from the No. 2 post. Leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Samuel Marin has been named to ride the Florida-bred colt for Joseph and owners Steven Friedfertig and Shining Stables.
Thunder Chuck, who breaks from the No. 3 post, is another Inaugural entry expected to merit serious consideration among bettors. Six-time Tampa Bay Downs riding champion Daniel Centeno will be aboard the gelding for owner Lea Farms and trainer Jorge Delgado. The son of outstanding sire Good Magic finished second in his most recent start, the Juvenile Sprint Stakes on Nov. 22 at Gulfstream.
Super Kick is another with solid credentials, including a maiden victory on Sept. 18 at Churchill Downs in 1:10.39 for 6 furlongs. Jesus Castanon will be aboard from the No. 4 post for owner Calumet Farm and trainer Eoin Harty.
The Sandpiper has attracted 10 fillies, including two from the barn of Joseph. His duo includes My Miss Mo, who broke her maiden on Nov. 9 at Gulfstream by 12 lengths in 1:24.39 for 7 furlongs. Zayas will ride the Florida-bred daughter of Uncle Mo, who will break from the No. 5 post. She is owned by Averill Racing, Mathis Stable and Tristan De Meric.
Joseph’s other entrant is the maiden filly Tahlequah, who will start from the No. 3 post under Micah Husbands.
Sneaky Good, who drew the No. 10 post position and will be ridden by Antonio Gallardo, has run only once, but it was a performance that turned some heads. She broke her maiden on Oct. 5 at Keeneland, winning a 6-furlong sprint by 4 ¾ lengths.
Sneaky Good is owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods and trained by Brad Cox.
Summer Winner, who drew the No. 2 post position, was a perfect 3-for-3 at Canterbury Park during the summer, including a victory on Sept. 6 in the Northern Lights Debutante Stakes. Bred and owned by Peter D. Mattson and Tim Padilla, and trained by Padilla, Summer Winner will be ridden by Alonso Quinonez.
Four-time leading Tampa Bay Downs trainer Kathleen O’Connell, who won back-to-back runnings of the Sandpiper Stakes with Lindsey Lane and Shananie’s Beat in 1993 and 1994, has entered Gerrards Cross, who will start from the No. 7 post under Sonny Leon.
Bred in Florida by her owner James M. Chicklo, Gerrards Cross is 2-for-2 and won the Colleen Stakes on the turf at Monmouth Park on July 27 in her last start.
Around the oval. Leading Oldsmar jockey Samuel Marin scored his 400th career victory in the sixth race aboard Poiema, a 6-year-old Florida-bred mare owned by JC Racing Stable and trained by Jose M. Castro. Poiema defeated the betting favorite, U Lite Up My Life, by 6 ½ lengths.
Thoroughbred racing continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:30 p.m. There are three turf races on the card. Tampa Bay Downs races on a Wednesday-Friday-Saturday schedule, with Sundays added to the mix on Dec. 21.
The track is open every day except Christmas, Dec. 25, for simulcasting, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.
“10 Days of Festivus” begins Friday. The “10 Days of Festivus Challenge” Handicapping Contest gets underway Friday and runs through Wednesday, Dec. 24. It’s fun and it’s free, and the winner earns $1,000. Interested? Players must register by 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 5 to be eligible. The runner-up earns $500.
Each day, players select one of two designated CHALLENGE RACES and make their choice in the race, with results determined from a mythical $2 win-place-show wager on their pick. Players begin the contest with a free lifeline and have an opportunity throughout the contest to purchase five more lifelines. Players lose a lifeline if their choice does not finish first, second or third, or if they fail to make a selection on a contest day.
A full set of rules is available at www.festivuschallenge.com , which is also the place to register. See how your skills stack up against many of the track’s top handicappers.
Officials and staff of Tampa Bay Downs invite Thoroughbred lovers and newcomers alike to share in the excitement of the Oldsmar oval’s meet-long centennial celebration, commemorating the track’s opening on Feb. 18, 1926.
