Markhamian wins Pasco, Outfoxed takes Gasparilla
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Stakes action resumed Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs following a five-week drought at the sunny Oldsmar, Fla., track.
Seven-furlong races for 3-year-olds, the $125,000 Pasco and $125,00 Gasparilla, were run back to back midway through a Saturday program held over a fast main track and on firm turf. They were followed later by the $50,000 Wayward Lass for fillies and mares.
These were the first Tampa stakes since Dec. 11. The biggest dates at a 2021-22 meet that runs through May 8 are Feb. 12 (Sam F. Davis) and March 12 (Tampa Bay Derby).
Pasco
Markhamian battled back along the rail after forcing all the pace in drawing clear to a 2 1/2-length score over Provocateur.
Marcos Meneses was in from Gulfstream Park to ride Markhamian, who earned $105,000 for Santa Rosa Racing Stables and trainer Juan Carlos Avila, a sum that included winner-only bonuses of $75,000 for registered Florida-breds. It was the first start since a Dec. 19 maiden win at Gulfstream for Markhamian, a Social Inclusion colt who paid $12.60 as fourth choice in a field of seven colts and geldings.
Markhamian finished in 1:23.23. Catatin was third as the 17-10 favorite, followed by Magical Mousse in fourth.
Gasparilla
Outfoxed ($4.20) looped the field in an eye-catching move in taking her career record to 3 for 4, prevailing by three-quarters of a length and finishing in 1:23.37 as the 11-10 favorite. Samy Camacho was aboard the daughter of Valiant Minister for LNJ Foxwoods and Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
Goddess of Fire closed belatedly from well back to be second, another three-quarters of a length before Strategic Bird in a field of eight fillies.
Outfoxed was making her first start since sweeping the last two legs of the Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream, the Aug. 28 Susan’s Girl and Sept. 25 My Dear Girl. She also earned the full Florida-bred bonuses when taking home $105,000.
Wayward Lass
Nantucket Red and jockey Olaf Hernandez turned back all comers when pulling a 15-1 upset of this 1 1/16-mile dirt race for fillies and mares, finishing comfortably ahead of the two favorites, Allworthy (9-5) and Don’t Get Khozy (2-1).
Nantucket Red, a 7-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Get Stormy, is trained by Michael Wright for Colebrook Farms. She paid $33.60 after finishing in 1:44.53.
*** Shirl’s Speight ($10.40), with Antonio Gallardo up for owner-breed Charles Fipke and Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield, spurted clear in a second-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles on firm turf when posting his first victory since the Grade 3 Marine in July 2020.
Hidden Stash was a good second when making his first start since running 14th last May in the Kentucky Derby.
*** The four-day week at Tampa ends Sunday with a nine-race card that starts at 12:14 p.m. Eastern.