Jehozacat, Admiralty Pier upset turf stakes; Got Stormy off board

OLDSMAR, Fla. – As qualifying points on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks trails were being earned by 3-year-olds during a busy Festival Preview card Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, major upsets were being registered by front-runners in a pair of Grade 3 stakes for older turf horses.

The 16-1 shot Jehozacat won the $150,000 Endeavour for fillies and mares, with heavily favored Got Stormy running fourth. In the $150,000 Tampa Bay for 4-year-olds and up, the 21-1 Admiralty Pier eked out a hard-fought victory in a three-way photo, and survived a stewards’ inquiry and jockeys’ objection. Both races were run at 1 1/16 miles over a course rated firm.

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Daniel Centeno was aboard Jehozacat ($35.60), who was left alone on the lead and held off late runs from Altea and Andina Del Sur in the Endeavour. But the overriding story was the failure of Got Stormy to hold form from 2019, when she was an Eclipse Award finalist in the filly-mare turf division. Got Stormy, always in good position under Tyler Gaffalione, had dead aim on the winner turning for home but faded as the 1-5 choice in a field of six fillies and mares.

“Just wasn’t her day,” said Gaffalione. “She seemed to handle the track fine, but when it came time to go, she didn’t have that same acceleration she normally does.”

Arnaud Delacour trains Jehozacat, a gray 5-year-old daughter of Tapit, for her owner-breeders, the Lael Stables of Roy and Gretchen Jackson. She finished in 1:42.44 for her second straight victory and her first in a graded event, and now has won 5 of 17 starts.

Altea was a neck behind in second and another three-quarters of a length ahead of Andina Del Sur, with Got Stormy another length back.

Just a few days out from the Endeavour, Delacour was torn between entering Jehozacat or Madame Milan.

“We sent Madame Milan to the farm to be bred,” said a grinning Delacour. “Sometimes you get lucky and make the right decision.”

Jehozacat could run back in the Hillsborough on the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby undercard, said Delacour.

Centeno and Delacour also teamed to win the following race, the Suncoast for 3-year-old fillies, with Lucrezia.

With Samy Camacho riding, Admiralty Pier took the early lead in the Tampa Bay, but didn't have it nearly as easy as Jehozacat did an hour earlier. A gang of challengers came to the 5-year-old gelding after he swung for home, and after some serious crowding in midstretch, the photo-finish camera determined Admiralty Pier a nose winner over late-flying Devamani.

March to the Arch, the 5-2 favorite in a field of eight, was just another head back in third. Admiralty Pier paid $44 and finished in 1:41.96.

The stewards’ decision to leave the order as is came after lengthy review of a midstretch incident in which Real Story was pinched back between Admiralty Pier (to his inside) and Halladay (to his outside). Tyler Gaffalione rode March to the Arch, and he also claimed foul against the eventual winner.

As with Jehozacat, the victory was the first in a graded stakes for Admiralty Pier, owned by Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford. He now has won 5 of 18 starts.