Tampa Bay Downs Selections - 02/24/09

Prime Wager Results.12-30 (40%) -$10.40(12-3-6) (70% ITM)
Soft Wager Results....15-50(30%) -$14.20 (15-12-4) (62% ITM)

On Sunday, my prime wager in the 6th, Rubaiyat won by a big margin and paid $3.20. My soft wager in the 8th, Fortunate Trail was 2nd in a photo. Among my contenders only selections, half of my 3rd race exacta wager scratched, but the one that went won and paid $4.40. My 4th race $12 exacta key box returned $42.00, my 6th race $8 exacta key box returned $29.80 and my 7th race $4 exacta box returned $19.40. So it goes...

Tuesday’s selections:

1st – Contenders Only – Shore Breeze Hero (2) was above par in 4 of last 5, including last race and was first or second in 8 of 10 lifetime. Mark Me (7) has the tell-tale signs of a Fontana bomb, the distance change and jockey switch combo. Gerry Bennett (L’s Lightning) was only 5% win and 15% ITM with shortening up horses in last two seasons. Exacta Box 2,7 and DD 2,7/4,5

2nd – Contenders Only – Celebration Dance (4) dueled for 5F in first after the long layoff and Scace is 40% win and 60% ITM with 2L4-8’s. Nina’s Gift (5) shortens up after earning the two best figs at Tampa among these. Behave (1) is hampered by PP 1. Exacta 4/5 and Trifectas All/4/1,5

3rd – Contenders Only – My Maracas Bay (2) was closest to par than any of these in last and McCarthy goes to Centeno to bring home her new charge. Exacta Key Box 2/3,5,7

4th – Contenders Only – Stop the Drama (8) dueled and came again to get the place in last with above par fig. Tony Wilson is 40% win and 60% ITM with fastbacks. Exacta Key Box 8/2,6,7

5th- Contenders Only – Kings Highway (8) had 11.55 final fraction in last for 68K purse at WO. Has been working well for return. Gets RoHo. Runaway Sun (5) another sub-12 final fraction performer, made a middle move first time over and stayed behind a wall of horses near the end of the second turn, could have gone the overland route. Tapped the accelerater to ensure the show. Delacour adds blinkers. Scorpion Strike (2) %E in debut was well outside the upper parameter for today’s distance. Dam has a turf winner. Goes for hot trainer and hot jockey. Exacta Box 5,8 and Trifectas 5,8/2,3,7,9/5,8

6th – Contenders Only – Mr. Georges Dream (3) is another with %E well outside the upper limit for 8.5F. Exacta Box 4,8 and Trifectas 4,8/6,9,10/3,4,8

7th – Contenders Only – See I A (1) will make for a hot early pace that the other E/P types will not be able to stay with. Benefits on rail and with speed friendly turf course.
Exacta Key Box 1/3,8 and Trifectas 1/4,5,6,9/3,8

8th – A soft wager, Sword Play (6). Very close to par in first at 6F. Likely to see further improvement today. Griffith/Montalvo team is 27-46 ITM. Excellent work three days ago. Win (6), Saver Exacta 9/6 and Trifectas 6/4,5,7,9/4,5,7,9

9th – Contenders Only – Azura (7) returns to 6F on the dirt after racing impressively in all four lifetime starts. Lightning fast workout from the gate on 1/31 says “I’m ready to Sprint”. Gerry Bennett has a $0.00 ROI off the claim in last two seasons, but does have a 56% ITM in first three off claim. Exacta Key Box 7/1,4 and Trifectas 1,2,7/4,5/1,2,7

10th – Contenders Only – There are only a few that will be able to handle the fast early pace that’s likely to go down here. Exacta Box 1,4,5 and Trifectas 4,5/1,4,6,7/1,4,5

Good luck and good racing!

Johnny B.