Miss Giacomo has edge in featured Saturday allowance

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Handicappers who focus on a horse’s company lines will have a hard time getting past Miss Giacomo in the featured eighth race Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, a first-level, $23,000 allowance for fillies and mares ages 4 and up. The 1 1/16-mile turf race drew a full field of 10, plus four horses on the also-eligible list.

In her first start on the Tampa turf Dec. 4, Miss Giacomo rallied steadily to be second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in a $16,000 claimer going a mile. The horse who won that race, Daddy’s Boo, came back Dec. 26 to score a front-running, 3 3/4-length victory in a $16,000 starter handicap. Daddy’s Boo was favored in both of those races.

Miss Giacomo earned a 79 Beyer Speed Figure last out, a career high and the best mark in Saturday’s field.

“She was getting to that horse she was chasing last time, and that horse returned to win a starter handicap pretty easily,” said Jamie Ness, who trains Miss Giacomo. “I was saving this condition, but I think this is the time to use it. She’s sitting on a good race.”

Miss Giacomo has won only five of 33 career starts, but her record on turf is solid, with five wins and three runner-up finishes in 15 races. The 7-year-old mare has earned $176,742, easily topping this field.

Key contenders

Miss Giacomo (Last 3 Beyers: 79-55-71)

* Lures leading jockey Antonio Gallardo, who has won at a 35 percent clip for Ness at Tampa in 2014-15. She should appreciate the extra half-furlong of this race after her rally fell short last out, and she’s turned in two bullet five-furlong workouts since then.

Pramedya (Beyers: 72-70)

* Tries turf for the first time and hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in a rich allowance at Keeneland in April. But jockey Daniel Centeno and trainer Arnaud Delacour have excelled when partnered at Tampa in 2014-15, going 14 for 32, with a profitable $2.94 return on investment.

Be Nice Or Leave (Last 3 Beyers: 75-36-70)

* Came up just a length short when fourth in a similar turf allowance Dec. 5, finishing just ahead of Carey Princess, who returns here.

Susie’s Baby (Last 3 Beyers: 72-63-67)

* After going 1 3/8 miles on turf in each of her last two starts, she clearly can handle the distance.

Queenofzeenile (Last 3 Beyers: 70-68-17)

* Finished second in a similar allowance Dec. 12, her first start on this turf course.