Everdoit shortens for first try against winners

Trainer Kevin Rice has gotten off to a quick start at the Tampa Bay Downs meet, one he hopes to continue Wednesday when he runs Everdoit in a first-level allowance for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt.

The race could be used as a stepping-stone to the $125,000 Pasco Stakes going seven furlongs on Jan. 13 at Tampa.

Rice said he typically turns most of his horses out this time of year, but with a bevy of Florida-breds in his barn and an increase in purses this winter for just such horses at Tampa, he decided to keep about 10 at the Oldsmar, Fla., track. Rice has won three races from his first nine starters.

Everdoit, a Florida-bred son of Gary D, has already been successful at Tampa, winning a two-turn maiden race by 2 1/4 lengths on Dec. 2. That race came after he finished a well-beaten fifth over the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs in October.

Rice said in the Presque Isle race the horse to his inside didn’t want to load and that caused Everdoit to lose his composure.

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“It seemed like it got him wound up, the rider said the whole race he was looking around and he was putting the brakes on,” Rice said. “He did everything right before that. First-time starters, you never know.”

With blinkers added for his second start, Everdoit ran more professionally, stalking the pacesetting Gran Yaco. Though he appeared to stall at the top of the lane, Everdoit was guided to the rail, slipped through an opening, and drew clear.

At the head of the stretch, Rice questioned whether he should have run him long.

“I thought I made the wrong decision at the quarter pole,” Rice said. “The rider got after him, he stayed in gear, and he kept moving.”

Rice said the speed Everdoit showed in that race gives him confidence the gelding can be effective shortening up to 6 1/2 furlongs.

Everdoit will likely find himself following Extra Halo in Wednesday’s race. After two losses on turf, Extra Halo was switched to the dirt and though he ran in maiden $30,000 claiming race, Extra Halo galloped to a 10 1/2-length victory, earning a 71 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I thought he’d run big, but he surprised me the way he drew off,” trainer Tony Granitz said. “We were going to take him to Turfway, but I thought he’d benefit to run on dirt so I said let’s take our shot and go to Tampa.”

Unable to find an allowance race for fillies, trainer Greg Sacco entered the 2-year-old filly Gorgeous Girl in this spot. She won a maiden special weight race against females on dirt at Monmouth before finishing ninth in the Selima Stakes on turf Sept. 30 at Laurel.

“She has really trained well since we got to Florida, every work better than the previous one,” said Sacco, who went 3 for 3 with his runners at Tampa last Friday and Saturday. “It’s not what I like to do, running against the boys, but she’s showing every indication she’ll put in a good effort for us. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than sitting in the barn.”

Gotts Got It and El Principito, fifth and seventh, respectively, in the Inaugural Stakes on Dec. 2; Bati King, Tuscan Ruler, and Takeschargesmiling complete the field.

‘Danno’ possible for Pasco

Book’em Danno, a two-time stakes-winning 2-year-old, could make his 3-year-old debut in the Pasco Stakes on Jan. 13 at Tampa Bay, trainer Derek Ryan said.

Ryan is hesitant to totally commit to the race because Book’em Danno, a New Jersey-bred son of Bucchero, would only be running for $50,000 of the advertised $125,000 purse. The other $75,000 is solely for Florida-breds.

“The money, if you’re not a Florida-bred, is atrocious,” Ryan said. “But it’s a good starting point. As of now, I’d say that’s the plan.”

Ryan won the Pasco in 2009 with Musket Man, who earned $30,000 for winning a race that had a $75,000 purse.

Book’em Danno won his first three races, including the Smoke Glacken at Monmouth and the off-the-turf Futurity at Aqueduct. In his most recent start, he finished second to Where’s Chris in the Nashua Stakes going one mile at Aqueduct.

“I think if we didn’t end up on the lead the other day, I don’t think we would have got beat,” Ryan said. “He likes to sit off the pace, he’s very rateable. He broke so sharp, the other speed fell down. He ended up there.”

On Friday, Book’em Danno had his first work since the Nashua, breezing a half-mile in 49.60 seconds at Tampa.

◗ Beginning this weekend with a Christmas Eve program, Sunday racing will be added to the Tampa schedule for the remainder of the meet. The lone exception will be Easter (March 31), when the track is closed.

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