Flipping Fish continues marathon campaign with 19th start

Trainer Benny Feliciano would like to give Flipping Fish a break. Thus far, the 5-year-old gelding has been uncooperative in that pursuit.

Wednesday, Flipping Fish will make his 19th start of the year when he runs in a starter/optional-claiming race over six furlongs on the Tampa Bay Downs dirt that could be considered the feature on a nine-race card.

Feliciano claimed Flipping Fish for $8,000 at Tampa on Jan. 4. That day, Flipping Fish finished last of six, beaten 26 3/4 lengths.

Feliciano put some blinkers on Flipping Fish, ran him back 18 days later, and the gelding cruised to a 2 1/2-length victory at odds of 8-1. From there, Flipping Fish has run at least once a month between Tampa, Thistledown, and Mahoning Valley. He has won seven times for Feliciano and only finished out of the top three on four occasions.

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“When I claimed him, he wasn’t running that good,” Feliciano said. “I made a few changes with him, put blinkers on him, and I think that might have done the trick. He was sound, looked good. There’s nothing wrong with him and that’s why I keep running him back.”

Feliciano said when he’s tried to give the horse more than two days off “he starts rearing up, kicking,” Feliciano said. “The girl that walks him can hardly keep him on the ground.”

On Dec. 13, Flipping Fish won a starter allowance at a lesser level than this, but did so by 2 1/4 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:09.38 and earning an 83 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He’s running so good, he makes it look easy,” said Feliciano, who has his son Ricardo to ride. “That race Wednesday, he fits in right in there too. He probably could win that race.”

One of his main rivals figures to be San Costantino, who beat Flipping Fish in a condition similar to this in March. San Costantino, trained by Maria Bowersock, has won once since but did run a solid second in this condition going seven furlongs Nov. 25.

In that race, San Costantino was in a bit tight along the inside, being slightly steadied by jockey Ronnie Allen Jr. before getting clear in the stretch. He was unable to run down the front-running winner Exacting.

Wednesday, San Costantino is drawn in post 4 with Allen aboard.

“He’s definitely better on the outside,” Bowersock said. “Once he gets clear, he gets going and makes his run.”

There looks to be ample speed in the field with Rebel Empire from the rail and Princely God, from the outside, both down from Delaware Park.

“I think it should set up good for him, there looks to be a good bit of speed in there,” Bowersock said.

Hail Southern returns to Tampa for the first time in nearly three years. He won his maiden for $16,000 claiming here in February 2021. Hail Southern hasn’t run since July 31 when he won a beaten $5,000 claimer at Louisiana Downs.

Great Faces and Lord Berrier complete the field.

First post Wednesday is 12:20 p.m.

Runaway Diva wins solid debut

San Costantino is one of three horses Bowersock has entered on Wednesday’s card. She is hoping at least one of them can duplicate the effort put in last Wednesday by Runaway Diva, a 2-year-old filly by Runhappy who won by 2 1/4 lengths at first asking.

Runaway Diva, who had four-wide trip under Allen, ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.71 and earned a 54 Beyer Speed Figure.

Runaway Diva, owned by Holly Hill Stable, was prepared by Thorostock, the operation founded by Nick Sallusto and that employs trainer Michelle Hemingway to break and train horses.

Bowersock said Runaway Diva came in with a good foundation to be able to win despite a wide trip. She galloped out strong as well.

“She came in with a good base under her and her mind’s very good,” Bowersock said. “She could have kept going. We’re going to see how she trains out of this race, get together with everybody, and make a plan. Eventually, we’re going to try and stretch her out.”

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