Extravagant Kid caps big weekend for Walsh by winning Florida Cup Sprint

Capping an unforgettable weekend for trainer Brendan Walsh, Extravagant Kid outgamed Ray’swarrior in a stretch-long battle to capture the Florida Cup Sprint, one of six Florida-bred stakes in the 17th annual Florida Cup series, held Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.

Walsh was on his way back Sunday from Dubai, where on Saturday he sent out Plus Que Parfait to win the UAE Derby and earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby. Walsh was represented Sunday at Tampa by Extravagant Kid, whom he claimed in January 2018 for the DARRS Inc. of David Ross. The hard-fought Sprint victory was the second in a restricted stakes for the 6-year-old gelding since the $75,000 claim.

Extravagant Kid, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $13.60 after finishing six furlongs in 1:09.77 over a fast track.

Ray’swarrior led from the start before being engaged in the upper stretch by Extravagant Kid, and the pair went toe-to-toe for the duration. Ray’swarrior, the 17-10 second choice, finished another 5 3/4 lengths ahead of his Jason Servis-trained stablemate Firenze Fire, the 13-10 favorite in a field of six older horses.

Firenze Fire, a multiple graded winner, was making his first start since finishing fourth in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and is headed to Belmont Park with many of the top Servis runners.

All six Florida Cup races were restricted to eligible Florida-breds and contested for a purse of $115,000 each. Just two more stakes, also for Florida-breds, remain at a 2018-19 Tampa meet, which runs through May 5: the Ivanavinalot and Silver Charm, a pair of $100,000 races set for May 4, Kentucky Derby Day.

In the other Florida Cup events:

Turf Classic

March to the Arch ($6.40) enjoyed a terrific 4-year-old debut, drawing off to a 3 1/4-length triumph under Gaffalione. Swagger Jagger was along late to take second in a field of six older horses.

Trained by Mark Casse for owner-breeder Live Oak Stud, March to the Arch was making his first start since Nov. 10. The victory was his second stakes win from 11 overall starts, with the Toronto Cup last July marking his first stakes score. The gelded son of Arch finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.66 over firm going in the Turf Classic. He paid $6.40.

Sophomore Sprint

Jackson led from the outset of this seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds and held on in the final 100 yards to defeat Great Success by three-quarters of a length. It was the second restricted-stakes triumph for the Kantharos colt, following one in November at Gulfstream West.

Tracy Pinchin is the breeder and owner of Jackson, who finished in 1:23.05. Jose Pinchin trains. Jackson paid $6.40.

Sophomore Turf

It took strong handling from jockey Antonio Gallardo, but Global Access was able to poke his head in front with about 50 yards remaining and give Live Oak its second Florida Cup win of the day, prevailing in a three-horse photo in this 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds. Swamp Rat was second and Jais’s Solitude was third in a field of eight.

Wide throughout and appearing somewhat difficult to control, Global Access got the distance in 1:41.35 for his first stakes win. Mike Trombetta trains the son of Giant’s Causeway. “He’s just a headstrong colt with a lot of talent,” said Trombetta.

Global Access returned $9.

Sophomore Fillies

A 3-year-old by Kantharos also was victorious in this filly race when Wildwood’s Beauty overtook Eyeinthesky after turning for home and steadily drew clear to a 3 1/2-length score under Chris Landeros.

Wildwood’s Beauty, trained by Scott Becker for William Stiritz, finished seven furlongs in 1:24 in her stakes debut. The dark bay filly has never been worse than second in five career tries. She paid $7.60.

Distaff Turf

Crown and Sugar, ridden by Gallardo, ended the Florida Cup events by romping home against eight other filly-mare turf runners, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.32. The 4-year-old daughter of Crown of Thorns now has won five in a row, including her last three over the local course.

Owned by Sabal Racing Stable and trained by Darien Rodriguez, Crown and Sugar prevailed by three lengths over late-running Bitacora, with Supercommittee settling for third.

Crown and Sugar paid $4.80.