Tampa Bay Downs Selections - 05/03/08

Results 64-207(30.9%) +$21.80 (64-30-26) (58.0% ITM)

On Tuesday, in the 3rd, my soft wager, Holiday Blaze won and paid $7.80. In the 5th, my soft wager, Sarah's Image finished second to the Tampa Bay Downs regular, Bikini Atoll. All of my contenders only selections were broken up by longshots, reminding me that this is Tampa Bay Downs, after all. So it goes...

Another winning season is coming to an end on Sunday, and then I've got six months to prepare for opening day in the second week of December.

My par times and trainer profiles for 2008-2009 will be available in the coming months for a nominal charge. Email me in the contact link in "my profile" if your interested in either of these products.

On Saturday, a better than expected card and more opportunities to make some bucks.

Saturday's selections:

1st - Exacta box 4,5 and DD's 4,5/6

2nd - A soft wager, Oberalp (PP6). Oberalp gets another chance at this low C5 1Y level. After leading after 6F with a 69 in last, two weeks ago, he was caught but was clearly second best. That was at 7F. Today he shortens up to 6F in a par 61 race. Should get it done at this shorter distance. Bet win, a 3/6 exacta box and a 6/2,3,4/2,3,4,7 tri.

3rd - Exacta box 8,12 (if 12 is out then straight exactas 8/3,4)

4th - Exacta box 2,6,8

5th - Trifectas 6/4/1,2,5

6th - Exacta box 3,5 and a saver trifecta 3,5/1,2,10/3,5

7th - Trifecta 1/12/5,8,11

8th - Trifecta 1,3-10/2/11 (Dixiana Darling, the love affair is over).

9th - Exacta box 3,6

10th - Exacta box 4,7 and trifecta 4,7/2,5,9/4,7 for a saver

11th - Exacta box 4,8,9 and DD 4,8,9/2

12th - A soft wager, Crown Colony (PP2). CC rushed to the lead on the grass and went 6F in 114.6 before coming up empty and finishing sixth at 1 1/16th miles in last. The variant for the grass that day was a -17, indicating a solid effort at the 6F point of call. Combine that with that bullet work on 4/11, 4F in 48.6 (1-26) and you've got a great betting oppourtunity against this bunch of subpar plodders. I'm betting Crown Colony(PP2) to win and a 2/3,4 exacta box.

Sunday action: DO NOT MISS OUT ON PIRATE KING in the 11th. A month ago, in last, he was so full of run he was coming out of his skin, but was stuck behind a wall of horses in the stretch. If he's ready to go again, he wins.

Good luck and good racing!

Johnny B.