The consistent Tracy Ann's Legacy finds good spot

A $20,000 turf-sprint optional claimer highlights another eight-race card Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs, where racing has continued while other tracks across the map have canceled due to the coronavirus crisis.

A no-spectator policy and a multitude of other precautionary measures remain in effect at the Oldsmar, Fla., track, where first post Sunday is 12:25 p.m. Eastern.

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Thirteen older fillies and mares have been entered in the featured seventh race, with 10 allowed to start. Tracy Ann’s Legacy and Beantown Baby, both of whom already have won turf sprints at the 2019-20 meet, figure among the lukewarm favorites in a well-matched lineup.

Tracy Ann’s Legacy, no worse than third in 11 of 13 career starts, is eligible for the five-furlong turf race because she’s entered for an optional $16,000 claiming tag that’s part of the multi-tiered conditions. Jesus Castanon will be aboard the 4-year-old Shackleford filly for trainer Juan Arriagada.

Beantown Baby was claimed from her most recent start Jan. 11 for $25,000 by Team Valor International and now resurfaces with Arnaud Delacour as trainer. The Artie Schiller filly is 2 for 2 on grass.

Riding amid eerie silence

Antonio Gallardo, who has led the Tampa jockey standings for most of the meet, which began in late November, said the absence of fans in the stands is quite noticeable – to an extent.

“It’s really weird when you always have the crowd rooting for you and calling your name to look around and not see anyone here,” Gallardo, a four-time Tampa riding champion, told track publicity this week. “It’s almost like you’re not really in a race, like you’re breezing horses in the morning. But when the gate opens, you’re in a different world. It’s you and your horse and that’s it.”

Into Friday, Gallardo had 78 wins at the meet, 13 ahead of second-place Samy Camacho.

◗ Marcelo Almeida notched his first victory in the United States when booting home R D Have Faith in the third race Wednesday. It was the 26th mount for Almeida since he began riding at Tampa in December. Almeida has 1,956 wins in Brazil, according to track publicity.