Rivelli's horses stretch out in featured turf races

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Daddy’s Boo and All Call each won a restricted stakes race with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure last month for trainer Larry Rivelli. But they will be trying something new at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday when they stretch out to 1 3/8 miles for twin turf tests that serve as the features on an 11-race card.

Daddy’s Boo will aim for her fourth straight win in race 9, for older fillies and mares, while All Call goes in race 7, for older males. Both races are for horses who have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2015-16, and both offer purses of $26,000. Both horses will be ridden by Daniel Centeno, who has won with four of his 10 mounts for Rivelli here since the start of 2015, for a highly profitable $3.22 return on investment.

Daddy’s Boo enters race 9 off a pacesetting neck win over the restricted stakes winner Quiet Kitten in the $60,000 Mary Todd Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 15. Daddy’s Boo earned a 94 Beyer in that 1 1/16-mile turf race, easily the highest mark in Saturday’s field. The 5-year-old Sweet Return mare has won both of her starts on Tampa’s turf course.

Daddy’s Boo has won six of 10 career starts, including a maiden-claiming score at 1 1/8 miles in 2014, the longest race of her career.

“I think she’ll win,” Rivelli said. “She’s doing as good as she’s ever done in her whole career, so I’m pretty confident. She ran a hell of a race the other day. I’m hoping it’s not going to be that tough. I’m pretty sure she can get the distance, just the way she travels, with a big, long stride. She has a high cruising speed and is really fast.”

The other top contenders include Miss Giacomo and Red River Heidi.

Miss Giacomo was the runner-up to Daddy’s Boo in a $16,000 claimer here in December and won a first-level allowance here Feb. 13 for trainer Jamie Ness. Red River Heidi, trained by Jason DaCosta, tries turf for the first time after losing a pair of $25,000 starter allowances here to Royal Jewely by a neck and a head.

In race 7, All Call is coming off a 3 1/4-length win in the $50,000 Little Magician Stakes, a one-mile turf race at Gulfstream on Feb. 15. All Call got an 87 Beyer that day, easily the highest last-race mark in Saturday’s field and tying his career high. All Call, a 5-year-old Cowboy Cal gelding, owns a win on grass at 1 1/8 miles but has never raced farther.

Among the other contenders is Ringold, who was a fast-closing fourth in a $16,000 conditioned claimer at a mile on grass here Feb. 14 and should appreciate the added ground. Ness claimed him from Rivelli in that spot.