Bennett, O'Connell loaded for Florida Cup Day

OLDSMAR, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Downs stakes schedule concludes April 9 with Florida Cup Day, when six stakes for Florida-breds worth $75,000 apiece will be run, and leading local trainers Gerald Bennett and Kathleen O’Connell are hoping for solid paydays, having nominated a total of 18 horses to the stakes races.

Bennett’s 10 nominees include Fast Flying Rumor, a top candidate for the Hilton Garden Inn/Hampton Inn & Suites Sprint, for older horses at six furlongs on the main track. The 4-year-old West Acre gelding earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, which track officials believe is the highest in Tampa Bay Downs history, in winning the five-furlong Turf Dash on Jan. 9 and returned Feb. 5 to win a starter optional-claiming race going six furlongs on dirt in a snappy 1:09.83. Fast Flying Rumor finished fourth in the Pelican Stakes on the main track last out Feb. 20.

Bennett also nominated Lake Drive South, who won the Sprint last year when trained by O’Connell, while Chad Stewart nominated Catalina Red, who shares a track record for seven furlongs of 1:21.40, set while winning the Pasco Stakes as a 2-year-old in December 2014.

O’Connell nominated eight horses for Florida Cup Day, with the 3-year-old fillies Crystal’s Cantata and Hey Girl Hey each nominated to both the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies, for 3-year-old females at seven furlongs, and the Sophomore Turf, for 3-year-olds of either sex at 1 1/16 miles on grass. Both fillies are two-time winners looking for their first stakes victories.

Rounding out the stakes slate on Florida Cup Day are the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore, for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs on the main track; the Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf, for fillies and mares ages 3 and up at 1 1/16 miles on grass; and the Tampa Turf Classic, for older horses going 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Other top horses nominated include the Bill Mott-trained Quality Rocks, who won last year’s Grade 3 Florida Oaks and is eying the Distaff Turf; Old Time Hockey, a Grade 2 stakes winner who will look to win the Tampa Turf Classic for the third straight year; the 10-year-old gelding Allie’s Event, who has won three consecutive races for breeder, owner, and trainer Lori Smock and is on course for the Tampa Turf Classic; Evidently, who will look to repeat in the Distaff Turf for trainer and owner Roy Lerman; and Family Meeting, who finished third for Proctor in this year’s Florida Oaks and would be taking on males in the Sophomore Turf.