Summer Festival of Racing on Thursday, Friday

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Tampa Bay Downs will hold its fourth annual Summer Festival of Racing on Thursday and Friday with a pair of eight-race cards consisting mostly of lower-level turf races.

The festival provides the track with status as a year-round meeting, enabling the track to control its simulcasting revenue. Thursday’s card marks the official conclusion of the 2015-16 meeting, and Friday’s card begins the 2016-17 meeting.

There will be six turf races Thursday and seven Friday, and there will be mandatory payouts both days on the pick five and Super Hi 5 wagers.

Thursday’s card features five maiden-claiming races for $16,000 or less. The feature is race 7, a $10,000 claimer for nonwinners of three races lifetime going one mile on turf. The race drew a field of eight older fillies and mares and two also-eligibles. Bellina Lady is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for trainer Hernan Parra after finishing second in a $16,000 claimer on the Gulfstream Park West turf in her most recent start Oct. 16.

Friday’s card features a pair of $20,000 maiden special weight races going one mile on turf.

Race 4 drew a field of eight fillies ages 3 and 4, and Dust It is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for trainer Laurine Fuller-Vargas after finishing second in a similar race here two starts back April 30. Race 7 drew a field of eight horses ages 3 and up, with one also-eligible. Patrick Joseph is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for trainer Dennis Manning after finishing second in a maiden $35,000 claiming race on the Gulfstream Park West turf in his most recent start Nov. 4.