Electric Light turns on the power

It took Winston Thompson some time to get Electric Light in the clear in Saturday's Pasco Stakes, but once the rider swung the colt to the outside, it was all over but the shouting. Electric Light blew by the leaders in the stretch and went on to a 6 3/4-length victory in the seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds before a crowd of 6,735 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Captain Lindsay rallied along the outside late to gain the place by a half-length, with Dazzling Dr. Cevin third, three-quarters of a length to the good of fourth-place finisher Oak Forest.

Through the opening three furlongs, Thompson and Electric Light were bottled up behind and inside rivals. But nearing the quarter pole, Thompson swung Electric Light out five wide and the colt took off. He rallied down the middle of the track to gain the lead leaving midstretch and pulled away. Time for the seven furlongs over a fast track was 1:23.67, one second off the track record.

A Live Oak Plantation homebred trained by Nick Zito, Electric Light paid $5.40 as the favorite in the field of 14.

The $27,000 winner's share ran Electric Light's earnings to $71,395. He was won 2 of 4 starts.