Nova Rags scores in Pasco at Tampa; Gasparilla ends in dead-heat

Nova Rags opened his 3-year-old season with a stakes win when he rallied for a 2 3/4-length victory over Newyearsblockparty in the $50,000 Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Foreman.

The race, which could produce starters for the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis on Feb. 6 at Tampa, was one of three stakes on the card. Special Princess and Adio’s Trippi finished in a dead-heat for the win in the $125,000 Gasparilla and Lucky Stride was up to win the $50,000 Wayward Lass.

Nova Rags, who was making his first start since finishing fourth in the Nashua on Nov. 8 at Aqueduct, stalked the pace Saturday, as Ahimelech set pressured fractions of 22.44 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.59 for the half-mile. Nova Rags advanced five wide on the turn and into the stretch, kept digging, then moved past the leaders to go on and cover seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:24.55.

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Samy Camacho was aboard for trainer Bill Mott.

Nova Rags is a son of Union Rags who races for his breeder, Michael Shanley. He was a debut winner at Belmont Park in October before making his second start in the Nashua.

The Gasparilla was won from both on and off the pace Saturday. Adios Trippi set the fractions and Special Princess closed from last as the pair finished heads up, winning by 1 3/4 lengths over favorite Feeling Mischief.

Adios Trippi ($5.60) set fractions of 22.57 for the opening quarter and 45.65 for the half-mile as Special Princess ($13.20) advanced as the race went on, with the pair hitting the wire together in 1:24.89.

Ademar Santos rode Special Princess for breeder and owner J D Farms and trainer Walter Woodard. Antonio Gallardo was aboard Adios Trippi for trainer Peter Walder. The filly also races for Walder, who owns her in partnership with Paradise Farms, Brian Hanley, Greg Boyer, and Scott Estes.

Special Princess is a daughter of Bahamian Squall and Adios Trippi is by Trippi. Both fillies were bred in Florida and as such the Gasparilla purse was worth more to them than to open-company horses, at $125,000.

Gallardo had a second stakes winner on the card when he guided Lucky Stride to victory in the $50,000 Wayward Lass. She closed from well back to win by 2 1/4 lengths over On the Town. It was another half-length back in third to Estilo Talentoso.

Lucky Stride ($3.40) had one horse beat through fractions of 22.60 for the opening quarter and 46.24 for the half-mile, before launching her bid. She made a big run on the turn, advancing five wide into the stretch. She kept punching through the lane, and covered 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares on a fast track in 1:44.24.

Michael Trombetta trains the daughter of Declaration of War for Sonata Stable.