Silver Prism, Brinca have winning look

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Silver Prism, winner of 2 of 3 starts including her turf debut last time out, and Brinca, a winner sprinting in her last two, top their respective fields as a $26,000 overnight handicap and a tough optional claiming test share the spotlight on Saturday's 11-race program at Tampa Bay Downs. Both races are at a mile over the turf.

The handicap, for 3-year-old fillies, will be run as the seventh race. Silver Prism won at first asking in February, defeating high-priced claiming 3-year-old fillies. She came back to be second to the heavily favored Island Time in a prep fror the Sophomore Fillies Sprint on Florida Cup Day.

Last time out, Silver Prism moved to middle distance as well as turf, and handled the new territory nicely. She raced just off the pace in the early stages, then rallied past the leaders leaving the second turn and drew off to post a 3 1/2-length tally.

Jockey Huber Villa-Gomez will handle Silver Prism again for trainer Jamie Ness, who also has entered Rising Barometer.

Regina Twain, from the barn of leading trainer Kathleen O'Connell, will be shooting for her third straight win on the turf in the seventh race. She won her last two races, both against $16,000 claimers, by rallying from just off the lead. Rosemary Homeister Jr. will handle Regina Twain again.

Awesome Vow, also from the O'Connell barn, won two straight locally before finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks. She then journeyed to Gulfstream where she finished seventh, beaten less than two lengths, in a tough allowance race on the turf.

The optional claiming race is slated to go as the third race. Brinca has won 3 of her last 4 outings including two on the turf. She rallied from off the pace in an overnight handicap going five furlongs most recently to upset that field at 13-1.

Brinca is equally adept sprinting or racing around two turns, as she showed earlier in the meeting when she took a 1 1/8-mile grass race. Carlos Montalvo pilots Brinca for trainer Ched Stewart.

Little B Rosson was third in a tough starter allowance at Gulfstream Park while coming off a 10-week break. She won over the local turf course earlier in the meeting.

Crimson Bucky makes her second start since September. Si Si Mon Amie comes off a troubled seventh with stakes runners at Gulfstream last out.