Tampa Bay Downs: Favored Cool Cowboy well clear in Inaugural Stakes
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Cool Cowboy justified his strong favoritism in the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes with an authoritative 3 1/2-length win in the six-furlong test for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
Despite being a bit fractious behind the gate prior to the start under Eduardo Perez, Cool Cowboy broke sharply and contested the pace three wide to the turn through an opening quarter of 21.67 seconds.
Moving into the turn Cool Cowboy swept to the front. He was well clear turning for home after a half in 45.05.
Cool Cowboy opened up a bit more on the field with a furlong remaining, then held a safe margin late under steady handling.
Early Entry rallied outside after a half and finished second while Trisha’s Love, who had pressed the early pace, finished third, two lengths further back.
Cool Cowboy ($3.80), a son of the Kodiak Kowboy trained by Dale Bennett, covered the six furlongs in 1:11.13 to post his third win from five career starts. He earned $60,000 for the victory.
** In the co-featured $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes, My Sweet Dove went to the front at the start and had enough left to turn back a strong late run from heavily favored Enquete for a hard-earned half-length victory in the race for 2-year-old fillies.
With Fernando De La Cruz aboard for his third winner on the program, My Sweet Dove covered the six furlongs over a fast racing strip in 1:11.42. It was another 10 1/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Secret Kitten. Scripture ‘n Verse finished fourth.
My Sweet Dove set the pace on a short while removed from the inner rail through a quarter in 22.15 and a half in 45.47. Enquete, who had dropped back to last in the six-horse field after breaking alertly, looped up four wide out of the turn to go after Sweet Dreams as that one moved into the final furlong with a clear advantage.
Willie Martinez swung the favorite to the inside in the final furlong and loomed a threat late but My Sweet Dove had enough to hold on for the win.
The victory was the second from three starts for the Monte Thomas trainee. My Sweet Dove earned $60,000 for her efforts and returned $13.