Almond Roca proves best in Gasparilla

Almond Roca captured her second straight stakes when wearing down longshot R True Talent in the 34th running of the $125,000 Gasparilla, the first of three Saturday stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.

The seven-furlong Gasparilla was a two-horse race almost from the start, with Almond Roca closely tracking 21-1 R True Talent on the lead. Jockey Pablo Morales set down Almond Roca for the drive, and the chestnut filly finally proved best, prevailing by a length in 1:22.76 over a fast track. She paid $3.40 as a heavy favorite in a field of six 3-year-old fillies.

Almond Roca, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Speightstown, was coming off a 9 1/4-length victory in the Sandpiper five weeks ago at Tampa. She is owned by the Chadds Ford Stable of Phyllis Wyeth and trained by Graham Motion, who was on hand for the race.

Barrier Island, the 8-5 second choice, was another 5 3/4 lengths back in third.

The $2 exacta (2-1) paid $28.40, the $1 trifecta (2-1-5) returned $30.20, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-1-5-6) was worth $9.35.

The male counterpart to the Gasparilla, the $125,000 Pasco, was carded later in the day, as was the $50,000 Wayward Lass for older fillies and mares.