OLDSMAR, Fla. – After a two-year absence, Dale Bennett is back on the scene at Tampa Bay Downs, developing young talent and winning races at a good clip. Bennett, in his 16th year as a trainer, sports a 22 percent lifetime winning percentage and since 2004 has won with 20 percent or more of his starters each year. While Bennett’s stable is a mixed bag of young prospects and established runners, the son of veteran horseman Gerald Bennett has a particular fondness for working with young horses and was pleased with the effort of one of his 3-year-olds, Stormy Pacific, in his third career start Saturday. Stormy Pacific, who unleashed a strong late rally to win his maiden in his second start here Feb. 1, tried winners for the first time Saturday in a seven-furlong optional claimer. While he couldn’t handle Triple Crown nominee Giancarlo, who posted a 97 Beyer Speed Figure in winning his maiden at Calder in December, he ran a very creditable second, and Dale Bennett said he feels the Stormy Atlantic gelding is improving with every start. “He missed the break the first time he ran here, and the track was wet, which I’m not sure he handled that great, but he made up a good bit of ground before he just got tired,” Bennett said. “Then, next out, he really dug in and ran down the leader late. He also made a decent move in Saturday’s race; he just couldn’t handle the favorite. But he’s an honest horse, and he’s got some grass blood, so that’s something to look forward to as well.” Bennett also ran Mr Thunder Boy in the Feb. 1 race won by Stormy Pacific, and he thinks that First Defence colt, who finished third that day, could have a bright future. “He acted up in the gate and got away bad and was a long way back to the stretch before he closed like a shot inside late,” Bennett said. “With a good break – who knows? – he might have won by five. He’s also got a good grass pedigree, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens when we try him on the turf.” Bennett gives his father a lot of credit for his foundation as a trainer. When asked for the biggest lesson his father taught him, Bennett was quick to answer. “He told me to listen to my horses, to pay attention to what they’re trying to tell you,” Bennett said. “If you listen, they’ll let you know the right way to go with them.” Bennett won his 17th race of the meeting Sunday. Carol Cedeno back in saddle Carol Cedeno, who had been sidelined by injury since August, returned to riding this week. The 25-year-old Cedeno, the wife of jockey Angel Serpa and a mother of two, chipped two vertebrae in her back in a spill at Penn National and has been getting on five or six horses each morning to get back into shape. Trainer Dennis Ward said he’s confident she’ll be back in the winner’s circle soon. “I was surprised she could ride as well as she could when I started using her about three years back,” Ward said. “She knows what she’s doing out there, and she’ll win some races here, trust me.” See I A wins third straight It’s too early to start talking about the best claim of the meeting, but when that discussion heats up, See I A’s name surely will be mentioned. Owner Richard Averill and trainer Gerald Bennett have adjoining boxes at Tampa Bay Downs, and Averill suggested Bennett find a horse to claim for him. Despite the fact that See I A was about to turn 8, Bennett saw potential in the runner who had won the Pelican Stakes in 2011 before tailing off form and claimed him for $6,250 in December. On Friday, See I A slipped through along the rail and drew off to win by 6 3/4 lengths over a field of starter-allowance sprinters for his third straight victory since being haltered. He finished the race over a track that was far from lightning-fast in 1:09.66, the fastest six furlongs of the meeting. The Florida-bred might next see action in the $75,000 Hilton Garden Inn/Hampton Inn & Suites Sprint on Florida Cup Day, April 5.