The Tampa Bay Downs road to the Tampa Bay Derby starts on Saturday with the Pasco Stakes. The first of a 3 week series of races that includes the Sam F. Davis and closes with the Tampa Bay Derby.
2016 Pasco Stakes Field
Morning Fire brings speed to the party from Philadelphia. Hard to quantify the Parx for this year with Bird of Trey regressing in the Jerome Stakes. Ran 2nd to the talented Never Gone South at Delaware. Speed and the rail and a solid jockey in Centeno.
Awesome Slate is a son of the long-winded Summer Bird who won the Belmont Stakes, Jockey Golc Cup and ran 4th in the Breeders Cup Classic. Looking for the natural hat trick with back to back impressive victories up in Canada. The Bullring monster takes on tougher.
Epic Journey won his maiden breaker in 3rd lifetime start. Florida bred goes up in class, but speed figures are in the mix and has run against open company at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. Running style says 7 furlongs should be a good distance but pedigree may be a little light.
Formal Summation classy runner has run 6 lifetime races and 5 stakes races. Has the speed to go wire to wire and closed fast in the Inaugural Stakes losing by a neck late in that race. Alternates really good performances with a 10th and 4th place finish. Needs to find some consistent form.
Fabour Marigny tries the dirt after 3 turf races. Lone lifetime win in 8 starts was on the turf. Not much upside but enters in top form. Looks like 4th place may be maxing out his abilities with this solid field. Dirt and 7 furlongs does not seem to suit his current form.
Hand of Power spanked a tough Maiden Special Weight filled at Churchill Downs. Gets the cut back from 1 mile to 7 furlongs and trainer Ian Wilkes spots his horses in realistic spots. Strong gallop out in the maiden win. Strong work tab. “All Systems Go” on the pedigree.
Jay’s Way continues to improve and gets a top jockey at Tampa Bay. Best races have been near the pace. Capable of closing if the fractions heat up.
Peppi the Hunter is a closer in a race with some solid speed. Was outrun in lone stakes race and faces better horses in the Pasco. Long term looks like a runner and fits in some minor stakes races later this spring.
The Right Thing seems pace compromised by the outside post and speed inside of him. Think that takes the starch out of his run and a slow fade.
Flashy Kyem Outside post causes concern. Big win in maiden breaker, but that was at Parx and the form is lower class than this race. Longshot 30/1.
The Choice:
Awesome Slate may be the speed of the speed and has ability. If Morning Fire applies pressure from the inside it may set it up for a closer. Hand of Power looks like the best closer who should relish the 7 furlongs. Hand of Power is a choice in a very competitive race.