Killybegs Captain seeks Pelican repeat

One Saturday after hosting four of the most important stakes of its 2019-20 meet, all at two turns, Tampa Bay Downs will give sprinters their turn when the Pelican and Minaret anchor an 11-race card.

The $75,000 Pelican and $50,000 Minaret, both to be run at six furlongs, are co-features on a program that starts at 12:12 p.m. Eastern at the Oldsmar, Fla., track. Sunshine and mid-70s are in the forecast.

Last Saturday was Festival Preview Day, when the Sam F. Davis served as a key prep toward the biggest race of the meet, the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby.

Pelican (race 8, 3:59 p.m.)

Killybegs Captain not only won the Pelican last year, but he defeated the highly accomplished Imperial Hint in the process. In all, the gray 6-year-old horse has two wins and a second from three starts over the Tampa main track.

“Racing and training down here seemed to take him to the next level,” said John Terranova, who trains Killybegs Captain for the Curragh Stables. “He did so well here last winter that we thought we’d try the same kind of thing all over again.”

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Samy Camacho has the call on Killybegs Captain in the 36th Pelican, which drew a field of nine older males. The Kentucky-bred horse will be making his first start since finishing last in the Oct. 26 Bold Ruler, won by Maximum Security. He shows a terrific work slate over the local course since early January.

“He’d had a big year and may’ve been a little tired by that last race,” said Terranova. “But he’s come back really strong and hit the target in his works. We’d love to see him show up big the way he did last year.”

Mucho, in from Payson Park for Bill Mott, could be the main threat to Killybegs Captain. Bred and owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, the 4-year-old colt came to hand last fall with a couple of sharp efforts at Churchill Downs. Leading jockey Antonio Gallardo has the call.

Also part of an interesting group are King Humor, Debbie’s Passion, and Wind of Change.

He Hate Me and Debbie’s Passion are eligible to earn an additional $25,000 that goes to a registered Florida-bred winner.

Minaret (race 10, 4:59 p.m.)

Although a bulky field of 12 fillies and mares suggests no one was scared away, Lady’s Island figures as a heavy favorite in the 39th Minaret with her superior early speed and Beyer Speed Figures. The 6-year-old mare recently was named the National HBPA Claiming Horse of the Year for 2019 after winning a remarkable eight of nine starts, including a romp in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park in December.

“It’s extremely satisfying to know a horse you’ve claimed for $16,000 has gone on to do the things she’s done,” said Rich Averill, who owns Lady’s Island with Matties Racing Stable.

Lady’s Island has been trained primarily by Georgina Baxter since being claimed in June 2018. For this race, Averill has turned her over to leading trainer Gerald Bennett, and then perhaps after staying at Tampa for a race on Florida Cup Day (March 29), said Averill, she’ll return to Baxter on the Atlantic Coast.

Emisael Jaramillo will be in from Gulfstream to keep the mount on Lady’s Island, who earned 101 and 98 Beyers in two of her 2019 wins.

If Lady’s Island is to stub her toe, the most likely upsetters are the late-running Molto Bella, looking to rebound off a disappointing last try, or Into Chocolate, a former West Coast denizen now trained by Mott. Foxy Mischief, Midtown Rose, Boujie Girl, and Proposition also could take some play.