Tampa Bay Downs: Mighty Brown outduels Cool Cowboy in Pasco
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Mighty Brown, who posted one of the faster six-furlong clockings of the current Tmapa Bay Downs meeting leaving the winless ranks in his last start, made it 2 for 2 over the local surface when he pulled away late for a 3 1/4-length victory in the $53,500 Pasco Stakes on Saturday.
Ridden by Dean Butler and trained by Tim Ice, Mighty Brown raced in close attendance to the early pace of 22.57 and 45.87 seconds and then ranged up outside to engage the speedy Cool Cowboy turning for home. The pair dueled past six furlongs in 1:10.81 as a team but Mighty Brown shook clear and edged away, covering the seven furlongs over a fast racing strip in 1:24.17. Cool Cowboy held on for the place, a length to the good of favored Giancarlo.
Mighty Brown returned $10.40 and picked up $30,000 for the victory.
Gasparilla: Nesso takes to main track
In the co-featured Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Nesso made a successful transition from turf to dirt. Nesso finished a close fourth in the Grade 3 Miseque Stakes at Hollywood Park on turf in her last start. Saturday, shevied for the lead into the stretch, opened up a bit in upper stretch and then had enough to turn back the late rally of Ice for the Lady to post her first stakes win under Abdiel Jaen.
Trained by Herman Wilensky, Nesso covered the seven furlongs in 1:24.93 and returned $10. Runaway Giant finished third with Maria Maria fourth. Favored Enquete finished eighth. .
Tom Proctor wins 1,000th race
In the eighth race, trainer Tom Proctor posted the 1,000th win of his career when Avenzure romped to an easy win over a field of allowance turf runners for his second straight career win under Ronnie Allen Jr.