Kentucky Ghost will contest Tampa Bay Stakes

Kentucky Ghost is among the older male horses expected in action next Saturday, Feb. 4, at Tampa Bay Downs, where the stakes schedule will resume with a pair of graded turf stakes.

Kentucky Ghost is being pointed to the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes, which will be run the same day at the Oldsmar, Fla., track as its female counterpart, the Grade 3 Endeavour. Purses for both 1 1/16-mile turf races start at $150,000, with an additional $25,000 in bonuses available to eligible Florida-breds.

Kentucky Ghost, trained by Vicki Oliver for BBN Racing, didn’t make the cutoff for the Pegasus World Cup Turf this weekend at Gulfstream Park, leading his connections to divert to the Tampa Bay.

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Sizable fields are expected for both races. There are 47 4-year-olds and up nominated to the Tampa Bay and 26 fillies and mares to the Endeavour. Entries for both will be drawn Wednesday.

The turf stakes come one week before the $200,000 Sam F. Davis anchors one of the biggest cards of the 2022-23 meet on Feb. 11. The Grade 3 Davis, a Kentucky Derby points qualifier, will highlight a program also including the Suncoast, Minaret, and Pelican, all on the main track. The Suncoast is being eyed by trainer Mark Casse as a potential comeback spot for Wonder Wheel, the likely 2-year-old filly champion of 2022.

◗ Carcano, a promising maiden trained by Oliver, has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his left foreleg and is sidelined for the coming months. The 3-year-old Bolt d’Oro colt had been pointing to the Sam Davis.

Oliver, meanwhile, is planning to send Trademark to the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback at Oaklawn Park from her winter base at Payson Park. Trademark, a 4-year-old gelding, has won his last two starts, an October allowance at Keeneland and the off-turf Commonwealth Turf on closing day of the Churchill Downs fall meet, Nov. 27.

◗ A $19,500 starter optional (race 6) and a $24,500 starter-allowance (race 7) are among the offerings on a modest nine-race card set for Friday at Tampa. First post is 12:32 p.m. Eastern.

In race 6, Tiz Herself likely will be favored again after finishing second at odds-on at the same level last out for trainer John Rigattieri. In race 7, Harpoon Harry shoots for a third straight victory at the meet for perennial leading trainer Gerald Bennett.

◗ The public is invited to attend an unveiling of a new documentary, “Mill Reef: A Legacy of Heart,” on Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Tampa. The 33-minute film chronicles the achievements of Mill Reef, the 1971 European Horse of the Year, and the bigger story of his owner Paul Mellon’s dedication to Thoroughbred racing and breeding. The event is being sponsored in part by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Tampa owner Stella Thayer has been heavily involved with the museum for decades.

Further information is available on the track website.

◗ Baseball caps with the Tampa Bay Downs logo will be given away with each paid admission Saturday.

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