Come on Chas seeks to rebound

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Come on Chas, who won 4 of 10 outings last season, capped off by an eight-length romp in the 1 1/2-mile Mac Diarmida Stakes at Arlington, will attempt to end a three-race losing streak in Tuesday's optional claiming feature at Tampa Bay Downs.

Trained by Larry Rivelli, Come on Chas finished seventh on the turf here Dec. 31 in his first start since July. He will return to the main track for this 1 1/16-mile race and will be ridden by Luis Gonzalez at 118 pounds.

A 5-year-old Jambalaya Jazz gelding, Come on Chas was well traveled last season, starting at five different tracks. After knocking out back-to-back wins at Charles Town and Mountaineer, Come on Chas moved to Keeneland, where he finished second in starter allowance company. He was then shipped to Arlington, where he posted a neck win over allowance foes.

His biggest victory of the season came in the Mac Diarmida, which was taken off the turf and run on a sloppy track. He prompted the pace in that race and then pulled away through the stretch for an easy tally.

Miami Sunrise, who came off a six-week break with a victory as the favorite over allowance rivals in his first local start, tops the challengers. Hot-riding Carlos Montalvo will be aboard at 122 pounds.

Trainee, Sarah's Image impressive

Trainee and Sarah's Image both turned in impressive local debuts to win their maiden races and look like horses with bright futures.

On Dec. 29, Sarah's Image set a quick pace for a half-mile in her career debut, then showed another gear to pull away through the stretch and win by 10 lengths. A 4-year-old daughter of Stormy Atlantic, her dam, Kim's Image, is a half-sister to two stakes runners, and Sarah's Image could well be a factor in stakes here this meeting.

Trainee, a 3-year-old daughter of Silver Charm who was making her third career start, prompted the early pace in a six-furlong maiden sprint, then blew the doors off the leaders, pulling away with authority to win by more than eight lengths with plenty left in the tank. She could be even better on the turf, as her dam, Four Plus Four, was a stakes winner who won four times on the turf, earning $208,000.

Tom Proctor trains Trainee, while Lori Smock trains Sarah's Image.