Stakes return to Tampa on Saturday
Big fields are expected when entries are drawn Wednesday for the three stakes to be run Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.
There have been no stakes run at Tampa since Dec. 11. The Saturday stakes, all to be run on the main track, are the $50,000 Pasco and $50,000 Gasparilla, both for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, and the $50,000 Wayward Lass at 1 1/16 miles.
Cattin, winner of the Dec. 4 Inaugural at Tampa in Oldsmar, Fla., is among quite a few colts and geldings scheduled to ship over from the Atlantic Coast for the 24th Pasco. The Ralph Nicks-trained colt prepped for his return with a half-mile work Saturday in 49.20 seconds, his third Gulfstream Park breeze since the Inaugural.
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“It was a nice maintenance work,” said Nicks. “He’s still got a lot to learn, but he tries hard and shows up every time and is doing really well.”
Cattin, with Samy Camacho riding again, is one of about 10 likely for the Pasco. Tampa stakes coordinator Gerry Stanislawzyk said he is expecting a similar number of fillies for the 38th Gasparilla and older fillies and mares for the Wayward Lass.
Both the Pasco and Gasparilla offer an additional $75,000 bonus to the winner if he or she is a registered Florida-bred. Cattin earned the statebred bonus in the Inaugural.
“This would be another nice payday if we can get it done again,” said Nicks.
The biggest dates at the 2021-22 meet are Feb. 12, when the Sam F. Davis will be run, and March 12, Tampa Bay Derby day.