Favored Pletcher runners add blinkers
Eight of the nine races on Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs are for conditioned claimers or maiden claimers. The chance of a horse of note emerging from those races is about the same as the likelihood of Rob Gronkowski staying home on a Friday night.
The fifth race on Wednesday is a different ballgame. The mile and 40-yard maiden special weight for 2-year-olds has drawn a field of six, and several look like they have more ability than they’ve shown and might blossom as the distances increase.
Todd Pletcher sends out the Pioneerof the Nile colt Pioneer of Medina and the Curlin colt Complete Agenda as the two favorites on the track’s morning line. Both add blinkers for Wednesday’s race.
Pioneer of Medina sprinted on the dirt at Monmouth Park in his debut, showing early speed and finishing second behind runaway winner Affable Monarch. He improved greatly from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint – from a 45 to a 69 – in his only other start, a third-place finish going a mile and 70 yards Oct. 31 on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park. Pioneer of Medina never got closer than a few lengths from the front in that race, and may show more speed Wednesday with the return to dirt and addition of blinkers.
Complete Agenda was sent off the 9-5 favorite in his lone start, a one-mile maiden race on the Gulfstream dirt a month ago. Complete Agenda did not want to load in the gate, and when the starter sprung the latch, he ran near the back of the pack and rallied only mildly for fifth. Judging by the betting action in his debut and the two subsequent bullet works, Complete Agenda has much more talent than he showed.
Caminero comes off a pair of seconds at Laurel Park. He rallied from 10 lengths back to miss by a neck going seven furlongs in his debut, then couldn’t run down Joe going a mile Nov. 21 and was beaten 3 1/2 lengths. Joe returned to win the Maryland Juvenile Championship on Saturday.
Caminero is now trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. after making his first two starts for Michael Trombetta.
The Thunderer returns off an even fifth in the Nov. 21 race won by Joe. He ended up 4 1/2 lengths behind Caminero.
Completing the field are the Christophe Clement-trained first-time starter Quantum Theory and second-timer Golden Wonder, who was beaten 23 lengths at Tampa in his debut.