Tampa Bay Downs Selections - 03/13/09

Prime Wager Results.13-31 (42%) -$7.80(13-3-6) (71% ITM)
Soft Wager Results....16-54(29%) -$20.60 (16-13-5) (63% ITM)

On Thursday, I had no prime or soft selections.

Among my contenders only selections:
My 3rd race $8 exacta key box returned $22.80, and
My 4th race $12 exacta key box returned $22.60. So it goes...

Friday’s selections at www.thetbdhandicapper.com :

1st – A Soft Wager – Val’s Gold (1) is on the shorten up after above par effort in first try at two turns. Ness/Cruz team has 4 winners in 6 attempts. Osceola Cat Dancer (7) is off-the-layoff and Kathleen O’Connell wins 20% (40% ITM) with L4-8 + Shipper types. Win (1), Saver Exacta 7/1 and Trifectas 1,7/4,10/1,4,7,10 and DD 1/7

2nd – A Soft Wager – Metro System (7) broke last, was 8 ½ lengths back after ¼ mile, made a protracted middle move, then continued to run down the leader, but was too late in extraordinary effort in last. Harries/Martinez are 6-11 ITM. Alie’s Doublecross (2) was close to par in last three, but is not looking like a winner after 17 maiden starts. Win (7), Saver Exacta 2/7 and Trifectas All/7/2

3rd – Contenders Only – Jim’s Cover Up (8) goes for Duane Knipe, who wins 29% (43% ITM) with 2L4-8’s. Jim has a win and three seconds in five starts at 5F. Figures to improve on a fast surface today. Cat Daddy Steve (6) was second best in last after above par effort. Shortens up here. Exacta Box 6,8 and Trifectas 6,8/1,4/1,4,6,8

4th – Contenders Only – Uno Way Calle (3). Ness lost him six weeks ago for $10,000 and gets him back for the bargain price of $5000 after low % trainer Brenda McCarthy failed to get anything from him in two attempts. If Uno had problems it would have been a one way street for Ness, but he claims him back instead. Now he’s got nothing to lose (figuratively) and can race him at the $5000 level until he pops. Last start at $5000 level was Uno’s first lifetime. Ness/Cruz team has 4 winners in 6 races this year. Exacta Key 3/2,7 and Trifectas 2,7/8,9,10,12/3

5th – A prime wager – Snow Lass (1) raced very professionally and responded well under steady handling in debut as the odds-on favorite. Had the best fig among today’s starters. Scace wins 60% with L1-3 + RB + UC types. Penn Atlantic (1a) had game effort in maiden win and Scace wins 35% rightback. This prime is contingent on Snow Lass going. Win (1), Saver Exacta 2,7/1 and Trifectas 1/4/2,7

6th – Contenders Only – Exacta Box 4,6/2,9 and Trifectas 4,6/3,5/2,4,6,9

7th – Contenders Only – Schopenhauer (2) goes for Dennis Manning who is 4-8 on the grass at this meeting, and won 50% with layoffs in the last two seasons. Centeno has the call. In Studio (5) has been above par in all three turf starts, but Dogden is 1-17 in last three seasons on the grass. Ndongo (12) is another who is always above par. All three horses have sub-12 final fractions. Exacta Box 2,5,12 and Trifectas 2,5,12/10/2,5,12

8th – Contenders Only – Samy Good Luck (1) is lightly raced with a nice clean record, a winning profile here. Caledon Cat (9) has %E that is right in the target zone for the stretchout. Ide Be O for Ten (8) made a nice move on the first turn, chased the leader on the backstretch, gained the lead in the second turn and then weakened in deep stretch, settling for 3rd at 67-1 in last. Exacta Key Box 1/8,9,11 and Trifectas 1/3,4,6/8,9,11

9th – Contenders Only – Talented Princess (8) had an 11.66 final fraction in last and goes for Peter Walder, who is 50% ITM in last two seasons on the grass. Leading rider Daniel Centeno has the call. The 4 and the 7 also had sub-12 finals last time out. Exacta Key Box 8/4,7 and Trifectas 4,7,8/2,3,6/4,7,8

10th – A soft wager – Master Speak (8) gets on nod on Ness’s amazing 61% win strike rate with L1-3 + S + Dropdowns in last two seasons. Win (8), Saver Exactas 1,5,6/8 and DD Wheel 8/All

11th – Contenders Only – Exacta Box 1,3,5 and Trifectas 1,3,5/7,12/1,3,5

Good luck and good racing!

Johnny B.