Mary Murphy wins Manatee by half-length

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Mary Murphy dueled to the stretch, opened a clear advantage after five furlongs, then just lasted over late-closing 35-1 longshot Really Royal to post a half-length victory in Saturday's $60,000 Manatee Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Ridden by Pedro Rodriguez, who replaced Rosemary Homeister Jr., Mary Murphy returned $18.80 after racing the seven furlongs in 1:26.64. Really Royal was 2 1/4 lengths ahead of 28-1 shot Cherry Hill Tree as the 4-3-1 trifecta returned $4,286.40. The 4-3 exacta was worth $485.40.

The win was the fourth from nine starts for Mary Murphy, who is trained by Joe Waunsch.

* In the $60,000 Gasparilla Stakes, Crafty Tears led from start to finish for a 2 3/4-length victory over the 4-5 favorite, Wild Tears, in the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year old fillies.

Ridden by Federico Mata for trainer Ronnie Allen Sr., Crafty Tears ($9.80) covered the distance over a racing strip labeled good in 1:26.81.