BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Before Tampa Bay Downs began their historic 100th season of Thoroughbred racing in November, track officials announced substantial earning opportunities for eligible Florida-breds. Their condition books for this season include as much as $23,000 in incentives for Florida-breds added to allowance, allowance optional claiming and maiden special weight races. Most of this year’s stakes are also boosted by money from the Florida-bred Incentives Fund and Florida Owners Awards.

The enhanced Florida-bred program is made possible through the state’s 2025 budget, which allocated a $1.5 million to Tampa Bay Downs. 

Owners and trainers of Florida-breds have taken notice—especially on Saturday’s card when runners bred in the Sunshine State won seven of nine races, none of which were restricted to Florida-breds.

Paula S. Capestro’s La Chismosa started the big day for Florida-breds, winning the first race by two-and-quarter lengths. Trained by Renaldo Richards and ridden to victory by Samy Camacho, the 3-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud’s Win Win Win bested five other fillies and mares in the $25,000 optional claiming starter allowance that featured a $36,500 purse.

Bred in Florida by the late Brereton C. Jones, La Chismosa earned $22,500. She is out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Silent Joy and paid $4.60 to win. La Chismosa ran six furlongs in 1:10.86 and it was the third win in four starts at Tampa Bay Downs this year for bay filly.

Race 2 went to Florida-bred Fields of Green, a 5-year-old mare by Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie out of Redbud Road, by Awesome of Course. Owned by Lima Horse Racing and trained by Martin Escobar, Fields of Green won an $8,000 claiming race with a purse of $24,000 by a length-and-a-half with Gabriel Maldonado up.

Fields of Green has now won two of five starts at Tampa Bay Downs this year. She was bred by Jacks or Better Farm and paid $8.40 to win and the Florida-bred $1 Daily Double paid $15.50.

The third race, a $16,000 claiming for fillies and mares, non-winners of two races, was dominated by Princess Vera, who won by four-and-a-half lengths. Jockey Samy Camacho took his second race of the day aboard the daughter of Gunnevera, who stands in Florida at Pleasant Acres Stallions. She is out of Charity Ball, by Indian Charlie and was bred by Tom McCrocklin and Bloom Racing.

Trained by Darien Rodriguez, Princess Vera earned $14,585 for owner Six Pack Summer Stables and paid $6.80 to win. The all-Florida-bred $.50 Pick 3 paid $16.60. The $1 Daily Double with Fields of Green and Princess Vera paid $15.50.

 

Red Storm Stable and Fugget About It Racing Stables’ La Dinamita made it four consecutive for Florida breeders with a four-and-three-quarters lengths tally in a $16,000 maiden claiming for fillies and mares. Ridden to victory by Daniel Centeno for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., La Dinamita earned the $14,050 winner’s share of the $22,750 purse.

By The Big Beast out of Infiltrada, by All American (Aus), La Dinamita was bred in Florida by Four Horsemen Racing Stable. She covered seven furlongs in 1:25.32 and paid $3.20 to win. The all Florida-bred Pick 3 paid $13.00 on a 50-cent bet and the $1 Daily Double with Princess Vera and La Dinamita returned $6.10.

The sixth race, a $6,250 claiming for 4-year-olds and older going seven furlongs and a purse of $22,250, went to Saybrook, who won by a length-and-three-quarters with Samuel Marin riding. Darien Rodriguez saddled his second Florida-bred winner as Saybrook got the $14,050 winner’s check for owner Sabal Racing Stable in winning his second straight at Tampa Bay Downs.

Bred in Florida by Robert C. Roffey Jr. Saybrook is by Jess’s Dream out of Sherrie Belle, by Outflanker. Saybrook paid $3 to win.

Expecting a Winner was a two-length winner of Race 7, a $16,000 claiming for older fillies and mares going a mile on the turf. Trained by William Downing and ridden by Jose Ferrer, Expecting a Winner earned $18,410 from the $28,700 total purse and paid $6 to win.

The 4-year-old mare is by Neolithic, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions, and is out of Expect An Entry, by Point of Entry. She was bred in Florida by Patricia Generazio and is owned by Frederick R. Stancato. 

Florida-bred Chequera won Race 8, a $10,000 maiden claiming for 4-year-olds and older at seven furlongs with a purse of $19,550. Marcos Meneses rode Chequera to a two-and-a-half length score for owner RG Thoroughbreds, who earned $11,595.

Trained by Robert Drake, Chequera is by Curlin’s Honor out of the Any Given Saturday mare Go Danica and was bred in Florida by Deluca and Sons Stables. 

Chequera paid $14.40 to win and the Florida-bred Daily Double with Expecting A Winner and Chequera returned $41.50 on a $1 ticket.

Return to the March 14 issue of Wire to Wire