Florida-bred Taylors Irish broke sharply and repelled all challengers to take the $50,000 Manatee Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday by a neck over Island Bound. The 6-year-old daughter of Drewman notched her first stakes score in the seven furlong Manatee after a heady ride from jockey Pedro Cotto Jr.
Taylors Irish was claimed two years ago at Tampa Bay Downs by her current owner Michael Newman and trainer Chrles Harvatt for $10,000. She now has 6 wins from 38 lifetime starts and earnings of $172,977.
Bred in Florida by Dianne D. Cotter, Taylors Irish is out of the Mister Frisky mare Brandon’s Ride, who has produced stakes winners Toby’s Corner and Bushmills Best.
Cotto was able to get Taylors Irish to the front early. She set a pressured paced thorough fractions of 23.08, 45.83 and 1:10.54. Her final time of 1:23.55 was .03 seconds off Hyperlink’s stakes record, set last year.
“She wanted to be up front and when we got there, she settled for me,” said Cotto. “One of them (Island Bound and jockey Ronnie Allen, Jr.) pushed past us on the turn, but I could sense my horse had more to give. Having ridden her before really helped me today.” Cotto won an allowance aboard Taylors Irish at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 7 for Harvatt.
“She loves everything about this place – the weather, the water, the surface,” said Harvatt. “She trains well here and just loves this track.”
Owner Michael Newman, an attorney from Stuart, earned his first stakes victory as an owner and described the experience as surreal.
“When you win a stakes race, well, that just doesn’t happen very often,” Newman said. “When she was coming down the stretch, I was in shock mode. She is an absolutely gorgeous horse, and I can’t say enough about her. She always gives you an effort.”
Taylors Irish returned $35.40, 12.60 and $6.40 for the victory. Island Time paid $8.80 to place and $5.00 to show. Much Rejoicing finished a half-length behind Island Time in third and paid $4.80.
Hot Summer, the 7-5 favorite, came up empty in the drive and finished eighth.
Photo by Cooley
