March using turf sprint as a starting point

There can be no doubt about the class of the race in the Saturday feature at Tampa Bay Downs. However, handicappers will have to decide for themselves as to whether the five-furlong turf race is the right spot for a horse named March to win right away following a layoff of more than 10 months.

March, an earner of more than $600,000, all for owner Robert LaPenta, is entered in the sixth of nine Saturday races, a $26,500 allowance that serves as a prep for the $100,000 Turf Dash on Dec. 30 at the Oldsmar, Fla., track. As a 3-year-old, March won the Grade 2 Woody Stephens and was narrowly defeated in the Hollywood Derby when still trained by Chad Brown.

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Since then, however, March has been lightly raced, and with his sixth birthday beckoning, he will return to action with a new trainer, Jonathan Thomas. Fans at Gulfstream and Tampa will want to acquaint themselves with Thomas, a 37-year-old Virginian who has about 40 active runners to campaign this winter out of his primary base, the Bridlewood training center in Ocala.

“This horse was sent to me in pretty good health,” said Thomas, who worked as an assistant to Todd Pletcher for about six years before going out on his own in 2015. “Obviously, he wants to run longer, but we felt like this would be a good spot to get his feet underneath him.”

If March isn’t fully cranked, then American Sailor or One Lucky Step figures as the most likely winner among the field of eight. Both are entered for a $100,000 claiming option that is part of the race conditions. The lineup also includes Hold On Smokey, a 12-year-old making his 86th start.

First post Saturday is 12:25 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 2:52.

Speed dominant first two days

Early speed absolutely dominated dirt racing during the first two days of this five-month meet. All seven winners on opening day last Saturday led after the first point of call, with every race being run at six or 6 1/2 furlongs.

Things didn’t change much when action resumed Wednesday, with all five dirt races (all sprints) being won by a horse who was first or second after the opening call.

Technically, July 1 was opening day of the current meet, and racing statistics for that day are assimilated into what will transpire at Tampa through May 6, 2018. The July 1 card was held to remain in compliance of state-mandated regulations concerning simulcast revenues.