Tampa Bay: Allie's Event wins third straight
OLDSMAR, Fla. – At age 10, Allie’s Event is continuing to defy Father Time, scoring his third consecutive victory at the current Tampa Bay Downs meet Saturday in a second-level optional $32,000 claimer. The gelding used his powerful closing kick to rally for a neck win over Nate the Natural on Saturday. Ridden by Fernando De La Cruz, he paid $9.40 as the second choice in the field of nine.
Allie’s Event, who has battled foot injuries throughout his career, has won 14 of 58 starts and earned $480,062 for Lori Smock, his breeder, owner, and trainer. His other two wins at the meet came at the same condition, with Allie’s Event rallying to score by a neck and half a length.
Smock said she isn’t surprised that her horse is doing so well at his age. Allie’s Event is a son of Wild Event and is from the Manlove mare Crewsin’ Allie.
“I just take good care of him and give him the time that he needs,” she said. “I just know my horse. He means a lot [to me]. I’ve had him since he was born and raised his mother. He’s like one of the family.”
Allie’s Event has never won a stakes race but might get another shot April 9 in the $75,000 Tampa Turf Classic, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for older Florida-bred horses. Allie’s Event was third in that race last year, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by repeat winner Old Time Hockey. Allie’s Event has run in that stakes race four times, including a runner-up finish to Picou in 2010.
One of the career highlights for Allie’s Event was a second-place finish to Blues Street in the Grade 3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs in 2011. Allie’s Event also was second, beaten a head by Decisive Moment, in the $200,800 Presque Isle Downs Mile in 2014.
You Bought Her to Gulfstream
You Bought Her is targeting the Grade 2, $200,000 Inside Information Stakes after successfully defending her crown in the $50,000 Minaret Stakes here on Saturday. You Bought Her drew off under Brian Pedroza to score by 4 1/4 lengths in the Minaret, paying $4.60 as the favorite and improving her record on the Tampa Bay Downs main track to 4 for 5, with one third-place finish.
Last year, she won the Minaret before finishing a fast-closing second in the Inside Information, a neck behind Classic Point. The seven-furlong Inside Information is for older fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park on March 19.
Trainer and co-owner David Hinsley said that after the Inside Information, You Bought Her could be pointed to the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland on April 9, though he noted that the three-week break between those two races might not be enough time.
You Bought Her, a 6-year-old daughter of Graeme Hall, has won 8 of 38 career starts and earned $399,418.