Tampa Bay Downs: Cloud Scapes noses out Waterway Run in Hillsborough

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Cloud Scapes, who used a strong late kick to take her first two starts locally, including the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes, was asked for a big late move again Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and responded gamely to the urging of Eric Rodriguez to get up in the final strides over Waterway.

Cloud Scapes, who had taken the early lead before longshot Donna’s Fly Girl rushed to the front, moved again to challenge out of the second turn along with Gulsary and Riposte from the outside and Waterway Run along the rail.

Waterway Run and Jose Lezcano found an opening along the inside turning for home and shot into a daylight lead a furlong out but Cloud Scapes wasn’t finished. She responded to strong handling by Rodriguez through the final sixteenth and wore down Waterway Run in the final strides to prevail by a nose.

Time for 1 1/8 miles over the firm turf course was 1:51.56. Riposte finished third.

Cloud Scapes ($9.60), trained by Graham Motion, is a daughter of stakes-winning mare Alternate.

Testa Rossi takes Oaks

Testa Rossi made her first start since finishing second in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in the Grade 3 $200,000 Florida Oaks and justified her role as the favorite when she looped rivals through the second turn and then blew past pacesetter Istanford en route to an authoritative 3 1/2-length win in her third U.S. start.

Istanford set moderate fractions of 48.16 seconds and 1:12.51 and still held a clear lead turning for home but Testa Rossi, who had looped rivals along the outside moving to contention through the second turn, set sail for the leader turning for home and roared past Istanford in midstretch.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Lezcano, Testa Rossi returned $4 while covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.51. Istanford held on well for second by 2 1/4 lengths with Interrupted getting up along inside to outnod 60-1 Babe’s Ruler by a nose for third.

Bobby’s Kitten wins comeback

Bobby’s Kitten, who finished third as the betting favorite in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, made his 3-year-old debut a winning one in the sixth race as he led from start to finish for a 1 ½- length victory over graded stakes winner Global View in the mile allowance race over the turf.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Bobby’s Kitten ($2.80) set fractions of 48.13 and 1:12.31 with Global View in pursuit but was under only mild encouragement through the stretch to maintain a safe margin as he posted his third win from five career starts.

Bobby’s Kitten, trained by Chad Brown for Ken and Sarah Ramsey, covered the distance over a firm turf course in 1:36.84..