Soldier's Dancer catches Silver Tree

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Soldier's Dancer ($4.60) wore down a stubborn Silver Tree through the final furlong for a 1 1/4-length victory in the Turf Classic, one of six $85,000 stakes for Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs Saturday.

Ridden by Daniel Centeno, Soldier's Dancer lagged back in last through the opening five furlongs of the 1 1/8-mile grass race. Soldier's Dancer moved up quickly along the outside through the final turn while Silver Tree was moving to the front.

Silver Tree held a clear lead a furlong out, but Soldier's Dancer would not be denied. He covered the 1 1/8 miles over a firm course in 1:49.95. Silver Tree held second and Fearless Eagle was a fast-closing third after being blocked to late stretch.

In the Sprint, Blue Pepsi Lodge ($9.20) took the racetrack away from heavily favored Lookinforthesecret at the start and went on to a neck victory. Lookinforthesecret, who finished second, had been going for his sixth win in a row locally.

Blue Pepsi Lodge, sent hard after the break by jockey Wesley Henry Sr., cut out blistering fractions of 21.45 seconds and 43.78, with Lookinforthesecret and Centeno sitting on his flank. He held a 1 1/2-length lead a furlong out, but Lookinforthesecret refused to give up and was slowly gaining late.

In the day's four other stakes:

* El Sultry Sun ($5) justified his role as the favorite in the Sophomore Turf for 3-year-olds, besting Gibber's Gold by a half-length in that 1 1/16-mile race, run in 1:45.43.

* Moonshine Alice ($9.40) set a blistering pace and had just enough left to prevail by three-quarters of a length over Dee's Rose and Tight Precision in the seven-furlong Sophomore Fillies Sprint for 3-year-old fillies. She covered the distance in 1:24.29. Andrew Ramgeet rode Moonshine Alice for trainer Gerald Bennett as the Bennett family finished one-two. Gerald's son Dale trains Dee's Rose.

* Bayou's Lassie ($3.60) led from flagfall to finish in a two-length win over Inhonorofjohnnie in the Turf Distaff for fillies and mares. She ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.05.

* Repenting ($4) disposed of Mr. Flatter after a half-mile, then drew off to take the Sophomore Sprint for 3-year-olds under Centeno. Repenting covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.79, just off the track record of 1:22.28.