My Sister's Keeper training well enough to earn dirt start
Trainer Mike Dini not only is enjoying another productive winter at Tampa, but he also is leading efforts to boost purses as the president of the Tampa Bay Downs division of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Dini replaced the retired Bob Jeffries in that position in early November.
A 10 percent purse increase becomes effective for most races Wednesday, when Dini just so happens to have a major player in the featured eighth race, a $23,750 allowance. He’ll saddle My Sister’s Keeper, who’s turning back in distance when switching over to the dirt as one of the likely favorites in a field of eight fillies and mares going six furlongs.
“She tends to do better on the grass,” said Dini, “but she really works good over this racetrack. She’ll work [a half-mile] in 47 like it’s nothing. She’s kind of a funny filly – she’s beautiful, and she’ll fool you into thinking she’ll run better than she does. But this looked like a good spot for her, and I’m eager to see how she does on the dirt.”
Antonio Gallardo, who begins this week with 1,999 career wins, has the call on My Sister’s Keeper.
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Dini, 60, had easily his best Tampa meet last year when sending out 23 winners. He enters this week with a 12-for-71 mark at the 2020-21 meet.
Starship Reina and Judy’s Way are among the top challengers to My Sister’s Keeper in the highlight of a nine-race card that starts at 12:32 p.m. Eastern. The local forecast calls for sunshine and a high of 59.
There is no carryover in the 20-cent Ultimate 6 (races 4-9) after the jackpot was emptied Sunday by a solo winner for $27,039.
This is the second purse increase at a meet that began Nov. 25, following a similar hike Dec. 16. Tampa general manager Peter Berube cited a 15 percent increase in all-sources wagering over last year as the primary reason for this latest bump. Tampa is averaging more than $4.1 million in daily handle, although ontrack betting is down 25 percent with diminished attendance during the pandemic.