Hammersly: Tampa pick five play for Saturday, March 10, 2018

Some classy runners fortify Tampa’s pick five (races 7-11) and their presence gives you options and the chance to snag a price or two along the way.

Race 7

GIDU (#7) was a super second in the Grade 3 Dania Beach on turf at Gulfstream last time out and anything near a repeat of that run wins this. SMART REMARK (#6) won his debut on turf and makes his first start since being a good second (beaten a neck) in an allowance race at Keeneland on Oct. 13. The winner, the horse who beat him by that scant neck, Promises Fulfilled, won last Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream. VERBOTEN (#3) comes here from Woodbine where he won his only two starts, both on turf. He’s worked very nicely for this.

A’s) 7
B’s) 6
C’s) 3

Race 8

YOU’RE TO BLAME (#6) looked super easily winning at Gulfstream last time out and figures tough. RAFTING (#3) was gone nearly 10 months but has come back strong, winning two races here this winter. He was Grade 3-placed here two years ago. JAY’S WAY (#5) beat the top pick at Gulfstream a few months ago. He could well do it again as he has the speed to be involved from the start.

A’s) 3, 6
B’s) 5
C’s) None

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Race 9

OFF LIMITS (#2) blossomed into a top-class middle-distance turf distaffer last year and she’s smartly worked for this, her first start of the year, as if she’s ready to pick up where she left off. LA CORONEL (#9) was no match for monstrous winner Dona Bruja in the Grade 3 Endeavour here last month but can benefit from that outing. DADDYS LIL DARLING (#5) is a hard-hitting filly who proved her mettle with a nice Grade 1 win at Santa Anita to close out last year.

A’s) 2
B’s) 5, 9
C’s) None

Race 10

SALSA BELLA (#12) won her debut in France last fall, resurfaced at Gulfstream Feb. 3, and was a sharp second in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant to Thewayiam, who came back to win the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride last Saturday. ALTEA (#2), like the top pick trained by Chad Brown, gives that trainer a strong one-two punch as she showed ample ability in France and has worked smartly for this. GOOTHINGSTAKETIME (#9) did plenty of good work in Ireland last year before coming to the U.S. and proving a smart winner at Del Mar. She’s got quality.

A’s) 12
B’s) 2
C’s) 9

Race 11

FLAMEAWAY (#5) showed speed and courage, gamely leading all the way to win the Grade 3 Davis here Feb. 10. He figures tough again and doesn’t need the lead. VINO ROSSO (#3) won his first two in smart fashion and ran on well to be third in the Davis here Feb. 10, not far behind FLAMEAWAY. He’s worked well since and gets blinkers. UNTAMED DOMAIN (#9) races on dirt for the first time but his daddy Animal Kingdom won the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on dirt. This guy has shown ample talent. WORLD OF TROUBLE (#8) was monstrous winning the Pasco here Jan. 20 by 13 3/4 lengths. He may be this good. TIZ MISCHIEF (#2) was a non-factor third in the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Feb. 3, but it was his first start in a while and he showed talent last year. (A caveat: Enticed and Free Drop Billy would be a must-use but both entered in the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct as well and their trainers have said they’d prefer to go there, weather permitting. Should they go here, use them instead of the last two named runners.)

A’s) 3, 5
B’s) 8, 9
C’s) 2

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