Tampa Bay Downs Selections - 02-20-09

Prime Wager Results.11-29(38%) -$11.60(11-3-6) (69% ITM)
Soft Wager Results....14-48(29%) -$17.20 (14-11-4) (60% ITM)

On Thursday, my soft selection in the 2nd, I Love To Say Yes was second best at $4.20-1, but my $8 exacta key box in that race returned $36.80. My soft wager in the 5th, Heat of the Night finished second in a race that was taken off the grass. Among my contenders only selections, my 6th race $28.00 trifecta returned $35.00 after a Dead Heat for second. A couple of my wagers were cancelled by scratches and there were two wild long shots today. So it goes...

Friday’s selections:

1st - Contenders Only – Wynn’s Wild Flower (6) only has to be rated well to get to the winner’s circle against these. Showed good early pace in debut and decent finishing ability in next two. Maybe Ronnie Allen can be the one to bring her home. Miz Kate Dovey (5). Slomkowski has no record with firsters to speak of, but Centeno takes the call. JP’s Hannah (8) hesitated at the break, then got to the front with a rush and shortens up today. Comes back in six days. Exacta Key Box 6/5,8

2nd – Contenders Only – I’m A Tigger Too (3). Has demonstrated some ability to be up close at the middle distances and drops close to the bottom for the first time.Exacta Key Box 3/5,8 and Trifectas 3/All/5,8

3rd - Contenders Only – Rumored Heart (2). Slomkowski is 44% Route-to-Sprint and 38% with Shippers. Has been successful going Turf to Dirt. Have to trust the stats sometimes. (Gerry Bennett on the other hand does not have a lot of success with long Layoffs or Shippers, so I’m a little surprised at the 9-5 ML for Thunder Cannon (3). Exacta Box 2,5,7 and Trifectas 2/All/5,7

4th – A soft wager, Poundcake (10) figs are improving with each start. Was eased near the wire after ensuring the place in last. Is 11-15 ITM at Tam. Sir Swervalot (6) doesn’t add up. Why drop a confirmed 16K turfer to rock bottom claiming on the dirt? Ness uses Ronnie Allen Jr and HVG when he’s trying. Races every couple of weeks and now he’s been away 33 days. Ningbo (7) was going well when a rival stumbled into him, taking him out of the race. Poundcake (10) Across-The-Board.

5th – Contenders Only – Trifectas 4,6/7,8/7,8 and Saver Exactas 7,8/4

6th – Contenders Only – Exacta Box 9,12 or Exacta Key Box 9/1,3,7 (if the 12 does not draw in) and Trifectas 1,3,7/9,12/1,3,4,7,8

7th – Contenders Only - Intrepid Inspector (11) improved in second race over the Tam surface. MVP Grand (4). Races three and four back were above par but disappointed in last as beaten favorite. Bucky Came Home (5). Pops on demand with above par figs for Sanders. Is he demanding this afternoon? Will Lucy get her first Tampa win? Exacta Key Box 11/4,5 and Trifectas 4,5,11/1,9,10/4,5,11.

8th – Contenders Only – Exacta Box 2,4,9 and Trifectas 2,9/1,3,8/2,4,9

9th – Contenders Only –Exacta Key Box 7/1,5,10

10th – Contenders Only – Exacta Key Box 3,12,13/9/10 and Trifectas 3,9,10/2,7,8/3,9,10

11th – Contenders Only – Supah Soup (1). Dale Bennett is 50% ITM with first three off the claim. Rightly Royal (6) has had a couple of blah sprints for bomb maker Bernell Rhone, wakes up today at the route. Florida Boy (8) vied inside in last, and is prone to sudden wakeup under Juan Camilo. Exacta Key Box 1/6,8 and Trifectas 1,6,8/9,11/1,6,8,9,11

Good luck and good racing!

Johnny B.