BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Souper Quest returns to action Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in search of his first stakes victory in the $125,000 Turf Dash. The Live Oak Plantation homebred joins fellow Florida-breds Reef Runner, Rouki and Chess Master in an overflow field of 14 4-year-olds and older, including two on the list of also eligibles, who will race five furlongs on the turf.
The purse includes a $25,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Trainer Mark Casse will saddle the multiple stakes-placed Souper Quest for his first start since he finished out of the money in the Grade 2 Woodford won by Turf Dash rival Our Shot going five-and-a-half furlongs at Keeneland in October. However, that was the only time in 10 career starts that Souper Quest has finished out of the top three. Last year he was second to Grooms All Bizness in the $108,000 Get Serious going five furlongs on the Monmouth Park turf and third in Big Invasion’s $150,000 Harvey Pack (Listed) going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Saratoga Race grass in September.
Souper Quest has four wins, three seconds and two thirds with career earnings of $309,792. He is by Munnings out of Lady of Victory, by War Front and will be ridden by Antonio Gallardo from post two.
They are listed at 4-1 on the morning line.
Reef Runner makes his first start at Tampa Bay Downs after starting the year with a third-place finish to Coppola in the five-furlong Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (Listed) on Jan. 25.
A winner of the $95,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint run at five furlongs on synthetic at Gulfstream in September, Reef Runner was also third in the $127,000 Janus won by Coppola on the Gulfstream turf on Dec. 21.
Reef Runner is by The Big Beast out of Paradise Bay, by Blame and was bred by owner Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.
Trained by David Fawkes, Reef Runner has won four with three seconds and three thirds in 13 career starts while banking $265,465.
Reef Runner will be ridden by Miguel Vasquez from post six.
The 8-5 morning line favorite is Our Shot, who is trained by John Terranova, who owns the 6-year-old gelding with Gatsas Stables and Steven Schoenfeld.
Our Shot makes his first start since winning the aforementioned Woodford at Keeneland after two runner-up finishes. He was second to Big Invasion in the Harvey Pack and finished a nose behind Souper Quest on July 28 in an upper level, $80,000 optional claiming going five-and-a-half furlongs at Saratoga.
Our Shot is by Kantharos out of Fleethearted, by Northern Afleet and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post eight.
Others entered are Super Chow and jockey Leonel Reyes, Thealligatorhunter with Alonso Quinonez, Horsepower will have Rajiv Maragh in the irons, Ron Allen Jr. takes the call on Going Up, Smithwick’s Smith and pilot Jorge Gonzalez, American Monarch with Daniel Centeno taking the call, Samy Camacho will be in the saddle for Florida-bred Rouki, Isivunguvungu (SAf) and jockey Samuel Marin and Jesus Castanon rides Florida-bred Chess Master. Honey Quest and Cotton are on the list of also eligibles.
Return to the February 21 issue of Wire to Wire
