OLDSMAR, Fla. – Six Gun Salute ran into a monster Feb. 11, finishing a well-beaten seventh in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes behind McCraken, a leading Kentucky Derby contender. Six Gun Salute will get significant class relief when he makes his turf debut in the featured fifth race at Tampa Bay Downs on Wednesday, a first-level, $22,500 allowance. The race, which covers 1 1/16 miles, also is open to $75,000 claimers and drew a field of seven. Six Gun Salute drew the No. 5 post and will be ridden for the first time by Edwin Gonzalez, who ranks second in the local jockey standings with 62 wins, 11 fewer than Daniel Centeno. Eoin Harty, who trains Six Gun Salute for owners Casner Racing LP and Equilette, also trained the horse’s sire, Colonel John, a two-time Grade 1 winner on dirt who showed that he could handle turf by winning the $91,970 Wickerr Stakes in a sizzling 1:32.77 for one mile at Del Mar in 2009. “I think Colonel John, as well as being a very prolific dirt runner, I think his one race on the turf was a phenomenal race, and I think if I kept him in training for another year, I would have focused on the turf with him, so I don’t have any doubts that he [Six Gun Salute] can run on turf,” Harty said. “I don’t think that will be a problem. He’s just a little bit devoid of speed – you can see that from his chart lines – but he has a good turn of foot, and I expect him to finish strong. If he doesn’t run well, I’ll be disappointed.” KEY CONTENDERS, Race 5 Six Gun Salute, by Colonel John Last 3 Beyers: 72-62-0 ◗ He’s been gelded since his most recent start, but Harty said the horse has recovered completely from the operation. Six Gun Salute breezed four furlongs in 49 seconds here Saturday, his fourth breeze of the month. “Believe me, this horse is in top shape,” Harty said. ◗ After a one-race experiment to try to get the horse to show more speed, Harty is removing the blinkers. ◗ The 72 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in the Sam F. Davis is the highest mark in this field. Holiday Bonus, by Harlan’s Holiday Last 3 Beyers: 63-51-68 ◗ He also has been gelded since his most recent start, an allowance loss at Keeneland in October, and is adding blinkers. Trainer Graham Motion has won with seven of his last 28 starters (25 percent) who were adding blinkers, for a $2.41 ROI. ◗ He shows a steady string of works at Palm Meadows in preparation for his return and will have Centeno aboard for the first time. No Boundaries, by Fort Prado Last 3 Beyers: 61-71-53 ◗ He owns the field’s best performance on turf, a 5 1/4-length maiden special weight win here in January, but finished a well-beaten fifth at this level last month after racing in midpack early. “I was pretty disappointed in my horse the last time he ran,” said trainer and co-owner Chris Block. “I thought he’d run a lot better than that. I’m hoping to rebound here with him Wednesday. I think this horse likes to be a little bit more free-running than being bottled up like he was last time, so I think on Wednesday, we’ll allow him to be a little bit more forwardly placed.” Florida-breds in spotlight The last stakes races of the meet come Sunday, when Florida Cup Day offers six $100,000 stakes for Florida-breds – three on dirt and three on turf. R Angel Katelyn, a three-time stakes winner for leading trainer Gerald Bennett, should be a short price in the Sophomore Fillies, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-old fillies. She breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 seconds on Sunday, the second-fastest of 22 works at the distance here that day. Tiger Blood, who won the $96,800 Pelican Stakes against open company here in February for trainer Darien Rodriguez, should be favored in the Sprint, a six-furlong race for older horses. He breezed four furlongs in 47.80 seconds here Sunday, the second-fastest of 39 works at the distance. Muggsamatic, a contender in the Sophomore Turf who has won three of seven career starts for trainer Kathleen O’Connell, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.60 on Saturday.