Spikezone gets rematch with Just Beat the Odds

Spikezone will look to avenge his lone defeat of the winter meet at Tampa Bay Downs when he meets Just Beat the Odds in a $32,000 second-level/optional-claiming sprint that tops Wednesday’s nine-race card and kicks off Tampa Bay Derby week.

Over a sloppy track going seven furlongs in December, Spikezone set a strong early pace but was run down late by Just Beat the Odds, finishing a half-length behind that one, while 6 1/2 lengths in front of the rest of the field.

Since then, Spikezone has come back to record front-running victories in a pair of optional-claiming races going six furlongs, the distance of Wednesday’s race.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Trainer Jamie Ness expressed concern about wheeling Spikezone back in two weeks but said when these races come up “you got to go.

“It’s not ideal conditions, but he’s a good horse, sound, fit, trained good,” Ness added. “We got a lot of speed, they’re going to have to catch us.”

After defeating Spikezone in that first level-allowance on Dec. 16, Just Beat the Odds came back to finish second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Sherlock’s Jewel in a second-level allowance going mile and 40 yards. Just Beat the Odds was seven lengths clear of the field.

Last summer, at Monmouth, Just Beat the Odds, trained by Gregg Sacco, won a six-furlong maiden race by 8 1/2 lengths one race after finishing third in a two-turn, mile and 70-yard event.

Samy Camacho rides Just Beat the Odds from post 4.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Saint Tapit, a son of the 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace, is looking to jump-start his career after finishing last in his only two starts of 2023. He is trying six furlongs for the first time. Saint Tapit did win his career debut going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont in 2022.

Flipping Fish, who went 7 for 19 in 2023, has as second and two thirds from three starts in 2024.

Capture the Lion, Rainbow’s Pride, and Get Even complete the field.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.