Navarro gets off to great start at Tampa Bay

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Trainer Jorge Navarro is off to a hot start at Tampa Bay Downs. A Panamanian native who began training on his own three years ago, Navarro has sent out 6 winners from just 16 starters for a sizzling win percentage of 37 percent and three of his other starters have finished second.

Navarro is the stepson of Julian Canet and step-grandson of Oswaldo Canet, who won training titles at River Downs and Beulah Park in the 1960s and 1970s. Navarro says he was around horses and horsemen from an early age.

*I’ve been in the business since I was a kid,” Navarro said, “Between my family and our friends everybody was involved with horses and racing in some way or another.”

Navarro, who won nine races here last saason with just eight stalls, was granted 23 stalls this season and began pointing for this meeting by shopping for horses early last fall.

“We began looking for horses to buy and claim with en eye on Tampa,” Navarro said. “I like the track here, it’s good to train over and hopefully we’ll continue to have good success”

Navarro has hopes for several 3-year-olds, including Daddy’s Honor, a filly who left the maiden ranks here on Jan. 13.

Good weekend for Scott

Trainer Joan Scott had a big weekend, sending out three winners on Saturday’s program then coming back on Sunday with another tally. Scott saddled Ali’s Joy ($4.60) in the fourth Saturday, came back in the 10th with Flashy Flirt ($6.40), then topped off a big day when she sent out first-time starter Blushandbashful to post an upset in the nightcap at 11-1, a surprisingly high payoff considering Scott’s record here with firsters and the fact that the meeting’s leading rider, Daniel Centeno, was aboard. The win was the fourth on the card for Centeno, who is dominating the jockey standings again this season.

Scott came back on Sunday to capture the fourth with Rough Stock ($11.60). Ricardo Feliciano, who had four wins during the weekend, was aboard that one as well as Ali’s Joy and Flashy Flirt on Saturday.

Sing It Again going good for Vinson

Years ago, Garner Vinson was among the many good horsemen at New England tracks such as Narragansett Park and Lincoln Downs in Rhode Island. These days, much like he did back then, Vinson is getting the job done. On Saturday, Vinson sent out Sing it Again to capture an optional claiming sprint for her second win of the meeting. A 5-year-old mare, Sing It Again covered 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast but somewhat dull racing strip in 1:18.66 and earned a career-best 74 Beyer Speed Figure.

◗ Trainer Tom Proctor was hoping for a solid tune-up from You Go West Girl and Keertana when he sent out the pair of top-flight turf stars in a prep for the Grade 3, $125,000 Endeavour Stakes on Sunday and got just that as the two horses both finished strong through the final furlong of the 1 1/16-mile allowance tio finish in a dead heat for the win. The Endeavour will be run on Feb. 12.