Our Country starts season in tough optional claimer

While Our Country holds a distinct class edge over his nine rivals in Wednesday’s first-level allowance/optional $75,000 claiming feature at Tampa Bay Downs, he could be vulnerable at a short price in his return to the races.

There are eight races scheduled Wednesday at Tampa with 10 or more horses entered in each one. First post is 12:30 p.m.

In the featured eighth, Our Country, a son of Constitution trained by George Weaver for Randy Hill and Gatsas Stable, is making his first start since he finished ninth (placed eighth via a disqualification), beaten just 2 1/2 lengths by Structor in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. Prior to that, he was third in the Grade 3 Pilgrim and fourth in the Grade 3 With Anticipation.

Our Country has the look of a grinder, one who may be reliant on a faster pace than he may get Wednesday.

Weaver had his choice of a couple of spots at Gulfstream – including last Saturday’s one-mile Cutler Bay Stakes, won by Decorated Invader. Weaver preferred the 1 1/16 miles and lesser competition of this race.

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“He doesn’t have a lightning turn of foot to get out of a spot and he doesn’t break well into the race,” Weaver said. “He hasn’t run badly, he just hasn’t had a chance to showcase his talent so far.”

Weaver said he’s hoping to use this race as a starting point to get to some of the bigger – and longer – 3-year-old turf races in the summer, such as the New York Racing Association’s Turf Triple, which is scheduled to begin with the $1 million Belmont Derby on July 11.

On Wednesday, Daniel Centeno rides Our Country from post 6.

Bitcoin Passion returns to Tampa Bay Downs where on Jan. 19 he won his debut at this 1 1/16-mile distance despite lugging in while rallying five wide in the stretch. That race did produce two next-out maiden special weight winners, but overall, runners from that race are just 3 for 14.

Christophe Clement, who has won with six of his last eight starters and is 11 for 26 at Tampa Bay Downs since Nov. 30, trains Bitcoin Passion. Clement had options at Gulfstream Park, but Bitcoin Passion was excluded from the Cutler Bay on earnings and Clement had another horse for a 1 1/8-mile allowance at Gulfstream last Friday. Gufo won that race, giving Clement his 2,000th career victory.

“Bitcoin Passion was very impressive in his first race, came out of it in good shape,” Clement said. “The race at Tampa is a little tougher than expected, but mine has trained well.”

Two potential value horses are Me and Mr. C and Pretendant. Me and Mr. C drops back into allowance company after finishing sixth in the Columbia Stakes, where he raced between horses for most of the trip and did not kick on late. He has twice lost by three-quarters of a length at this level.

Pretendant has been facing lesser-quality competition but does go out first time for trainer Derek Ryan, who has a good success rate with horses making their first start for him.

Alley Oop Johnny, fourth after setting the pace in the Columbia, is a threat to take this field gate to wire.