Déjà vu for Inspector Lynley in Tampa Bay Stakes

OLDSMAR, Fla. – In a virtual repeat of what happened here two years ago, Inspector Lynley charged to victory Saturday in the 33rd running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Tampa Bay Stakes, the first of four straight stakes on Festival Preview Day at Tampa Bay Downs.

Trained by Shug McGaughey for his owner-breeders, Stuart Janney III and the Phipps Stable, Inspector Lynley rallied to win the 1 1/16-mile turf race by a half-length over Divisidero. The 2-1 favorite, Qurbaan, was just a nose back in third, and Heart to Heart was another neck back in fourth.

The winner paid $8.80 as third choice in a field of eight older horses after finishing in 1:40.35 over a firm course.

It was just the second win for Inspector Lynley, a 6-year-old horse by Lemon Drop Kid, since he won the 2017 Tampa Bay by a half-length. He was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Ft. Lauderdale at Gulfstream Park, where he was saddled with the outside post in a field of 13.

“Last time, breaking from the way outside, I had to take him back a little farther than we wanted to,” said winning jockey Jose Ortiz.

But breaking this time from post 2, Inspector Lynley saved ground on both turns, then out-kicked the competition after taking over for front-running Heart to Heart inside the furlong pole.

“Today we drew perfect and had a great target to follow, Heart to Heart,” said Ortiz. “That was my goal, to be right behind him. From there, we swung out, and he took me home.”

Heart to Heart, the 2-1 second choice under Julien Leparoux, set fractions of 22.89 seconds, 47.31, and 1:10.85 when dogged from the outside by 115-1 shot Cheyenne’s Colonel.

“I wish I’d had an easier lead, but that’s the way it goes,” said Leparoux. “The horse was in there trying all the way.”

Inspector Lynley, based at Payson Park, now has won 5 of 22 starts and $632,299, with an August 2018 triumph in the restricted Lure Stakes at Saratoga being his lone score since he won here on Feb. 11, 2017.

The $2 exacta (2-3) paid $36, the $1 trifecta (2-3-4) returned $44.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-3-4-7) was worth $12.91.