La Key seeks rebound in allowance feature

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Trainer Darien Rodriguez has picked his spots wisely at the current Tampa Bay Downs meeting, getting two wins and a third-place finish from four starters. He will send out another well-spotted contender in the featured ninth race on Wednesday’s 10-race card, a first-level, $22,500 allowance for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the main track.

Rodriguez will start La Key, who was transferred to his barn after running last of nine in the $89,000 Sandpiper Stakes on Dec. 3 here for trainer Baltazar Galvan. Wednesday’s race drew a field of 10, and La Key is among the three fillies not entered for the optional $75,000 claiming tag.

La Key has turned in one workout for Rodriguez, breezing four furlongs in 49.20 seconds here Dec. 20, and Rodriguez said he thinks she can rebound from the uncharacteristically poor effort in the Sandpiper.

“She worked good,” he said. “When I first got her, she was looking a little bit dull and dehydrated and had bled a little bit, so we took care of that problem, and she’s coming around pretty good now, so we’re going to give her a shot in this race and see what happens. She wasn’t eating good, but she’s doing a lot better now, so hopefully she’ll run big.”

La Key has won three of her six starts and has earned $73,000 for owner Miguel Barraza. The daughter of J P’s Gusto was impressive at Delaware Park in the fall, winning two optional $65,000 claiming sprints, including one over male rivals in September. In the second of those efforts Oct. 8, she won by three lengths over R Angel Katelyn, who subsequently won the Sandpiper Stakes for her second stakes victory.

“I watched the replays on her, and it looked like she beat that filly [R Angel Katelyn] pretty easily, so she’s got some talent,” Rodriguez said.

Race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

La Key, by J P’s Gusto
Last 3 Beyers: 22-69-54

◗ She will be ridden for the first time by the red-hot Daniel Centeno, who has won with 19 of his 50 mounts (38 percent) at the meeting.

My Ticket Home, by Shackleford
Last 3 Beyers: 68-23-25

◗ She set a very fast pace before finishing a creditable third in an optional $75,000 claiming sprint at Churchill Downs in her most recent start Nov. 26 and subsequently turned in two three-furlong workouts at Palm Meadows for trainer George “Rusty” Arnold.

J’s Indian Charm, by Adios Charlie
Beyer: 69

◗ She races on dirt for the first time after winning her debut in front-running fashion in a $28,140 maiden special weight race on the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs in August. Ronnie Allen Jr. retains the mount for trainer Maria Bowersock, who has three runner-up finishes from eight starters at the Tampa meet.

◗ She’s worked four times locally for her return, including a bullet five furlongs in 1:01 on Dec. 21.

R Angel Katelyn to Gasparilla Stakes

R Angel Katelyn, who scored a front-running, 3 1/2-length victory in the Sandpiper Stakes last out, will make her next start in the $100,000 Gasparilla Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs here Jan. 21, according to co-owner Richard Averill.

Trained by leading conditioner Gerald Bennett, R Angel Katelyn has three wins, a runner-up finish, and $147,120 in earnings for Averill Racing LLC and CCF Racing Stable. Two starts back, she beat fellow Florida-breds in the $100,000 Juvenile Filly Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 12.

Last Saturday, the daughter of High Cotton breezed four furlongs in 48.60 seconds, the third-fastest of 91 works at the distance here that day.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that R Angel Katelyn would make her next start in the Suncoast Stakes on Feb. 11.