Power Squeeze takes rail route to Suncoast's winner's circle

Power Squeeze slipped through an opening along the rail in upper stretch and edged clear to a 2 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Tampa Bay Downs.

Whocouldaskformo, last at the top of the stretch after being forced to steady entering the first turn, outfinished America’s Vow by a head to get second. It was three-quarters of a length back to Managing Mischief in fourth. Gorgeous Girl finished fifth, followed by Life Talk, the 2-5 favorite, who faded to last in the field of six.

The victory was the third straight for Power Squeeze, a daughter of Union Rags owned by the Lea Farms of Bill and Paula Cosgrove, and trained by Jorge Delgado. Power Squeeze, who won the Cash Run Stakes by five lengths on Jan. 1 at Gulfstream, earned 20 points Saturday toward the May 3 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

Power Squeeze, ridden by Daniel Centeno, saved ground on the inside behind the leading pair of Managing Mischief and Gorgeous Girl who were heads apart through a half-mile in 48.94 seconds.

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Centeno had Power Squeeze in third, just a length off the pace and inside of America’s Vow and Life Talk down the backside. While Life Talk was attempting to launch a three-wide bid around the far turn under Jose Ortiz, Centeno had little choice but to stay inside. Turning for home, when Managing Mischief came off the inside, Centeno guided Power Squeeze through the opening around the eighth pole and she drew away.

Power Squeeze covered the mile and 40 yards in 1:40.22 and returned $8 as the second choice.

In a post-race interview aired on Tampa’s simulcast feed, Centeno said he was hoping to make an outside move but “I was stuck in the middle, nowhere to go, so I decided to stay on the rail and it opened and I went through and she opened up.”

With $124,578 wagered to show on Life Talk out of $157,200 in the pool, the show payoffs were significant _ $7.20 on Power Squeeze, $9.20 on Whocouldaskformo and $24.60 on America’s Vow.

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