Latest Betting Articles

Tampa Bay Downs

Best Bets:
Race 2: #6 Put Position
Race 5: #1 Queen’s Embrace
Race 6: #3 Nicole Mummings

Bet TOP HORSE Across the board each race.
Bet Exacta Boxes with Top 3 Horses each race.

Race 1: None of these inspire confidence but BIZ MAKER went close on the Turf here in February and should be bang there at the finish once again if translating that form to this surface. I Am A. Luring has bits of form in less valuable claimers while Alexacrat can do better back over this extra distance. Tidal Field is one of the least exposed and may improve but the rest are hard to recommend. SELECTIONS: 4-5-6-2

Race 2

Crown Of Joy beat Nightstorm on the Turf here at this time last year and the latter finished a long way behind runner-up Cotton Tooyah on a sloppy track more recently along with Speeding Starlet. Sunset Empire returned a losing favorite over 6f on her latest outing though won her only previous start over today’s trip and can figure but PUT POSITION is preferred. Jose Delgado’s mare has been below par at Gulfstream recently but won three of only six outings last year and faces an easier task today dropping down to this level.
SELECTIONS: 6-2-3-1

Race 3

Drillomatic finished in front of Lion Charmer when runner-up here last time and the winner has subsequently gone in again. He’s preferred to Dizzy Sight, who ships-in from Gulfstream with a chance though has only won a maiden so far. No Regrets has a poor strike rate with only one success in 24 attempts but the unexposed FLY NIGHTLY has been competing in allowance races since landing a straight maiden here in January. With plenty of scope for improvement as he drops down in class and Michael Stidham’s yard firing-in the winners, he gets the vote.
SELECTIONS: 5-7-8-4

Race 4

Hay Hay My My is usually thereabouts and went close on a sloppy track here the last time he raced on Dirt. Old Fort is thoroughly exposed and still a maiden after 17 starts but Finally is unexposed after three outings on Turf and debuts on this surface. PRIZED WARRIOR (NAP) returned from a short break having been gelded since last seen at Gulfstream and missed out by only a nose over 7f here. With further progress expected and leading track jockey Antonio Gallardo keeping the partnership intact, he’s taken to open his account in this.
SELECTIONS: 3-2-8-10

Race 5

The progressive QUEENS EMBRACE landed a four-timer at the track with last month’s success and is worth sticking with. Kathleen O’Connell’s filly scored in his grade earlier and has already beaten today’s chief rivals. That included Sugar Fix and Volador last time and the former has gone on to win a claimer while Real Doozie was caught by the selection in the closing stages here back in March. Joyous Times ships-in from Gulfstream having won a claimer earlier this year while Fast Fionnuala is upped in distance.
SELECTIONS: 1-5-2-4

Race 6

Prison Padre won here recently but has drawn wide for this while Nicole Munnings finished just ahead of Cpl. Dionicio when second here earlier in the month looking to end a long losing run. Osvaldo and Sunshines Out finished further behind in the above race though the latter was drawn high on that occasion and had beaten Nicole Munnings when third over track and trip earlier. BIG YES also suffered drawn out with the washing on his latest outing having returned a convincing three-length winner on his penultimate start but has a more favourable draw today and Walt Woodard’s colt gets another chance.
SELECTIONS: 3-2-10-8

Race 7

A wide-open contest though Total Tap was beaten at this level last month having won lower grade claimers either side. Coltrane won in this grade last month and Blue Sky Kowboy is looking to bounce back having landed a stakes race at Hawthorne in 2019. Robert Hess has a strong hand running both Dubby Dubbie, who drops in class, and FRENCH GETAWAY. But the latter ships-in from Santa Anita having scored at the latter track in February and may just edge this. The reserves Serve The King and Bird’s Eye View are others to consider if making the line-up.
SELECTIONS: 4-3-5-6

Race 8

A runner-up last month, Sold On Salsa has subsequently finished behind CELESTIAL ORB and has had no luck with the draw today. The latter has improved for the drop back to sprinting with a couple of recent placed efforts here and Bill March’s mare may prove the one to side with. Rita Of Cascia and R Lovely Julz have not been at their best recently but both have the past form to figure while Suzie Its You has more scope than most but returned to action with a poor effort and now has something to prove.
SELECTIONS: 6-12-3-8

Race 9

PURE RHYTHM missed out by only a neck here recently and any further progress will see Michael Stidham’s filly off the mark. She has much stronger form than stablemate Dark Lightning but Ever Smart looks a threat on last month’s second on an off-track here. Band Sweetheart can do better back on Turf today as she steps up in distance while the $750,000 newcomer Completed makes her racecourse debut for an in-form trainer.
SELECTIONS: 2-3-6-4