Tampa Bay Downs: Old Time Hockey takes Turf Classic

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Old Time Hockey was swung outside in upper stretch by jockey Ronnie Allen Jr. and ran down stubborn pacesetter Racing Aptitude in the final strides to capture the Tampa Bay Turf Classic by three-quarters of a length on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

Old Time Hockey ($5.20), trained by Tom Proctor, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.87. Bad Debt was a nose back of Racing Aptitude in third. Allie’s Event was fourth.

The Turf Classic, like all six stakes for Florida-breds on Florida Cup Day, carried a purse of $75,000.

* Sneaking Uponyou raced favored Evolution Rocks into defeat after a half-mile , and then drew off smartly through the stretch to post an impressive victory in the Sprint Stakes.

Sneaking Uponyou, ridden by Huber Villa-Gomez and trained by Jamie Ness, covered the six furlongs in 1:09.08 and returned $18.80. City of Weston was up late for second with Evolution Rocks fading to third.

* Lori’s Store got through into the stretch to gain the lead in the drive of the Distaff Turf but came out late and was disqualified to third, elevating Cuppy Cakes ($26.20) to the top spot in the 1 1/16-mile race

E B Ryder, who was a late closing third, was elevated to second.

* In the Sophomore Fillies Sprint, Holiday Magic ($16.20) sat off a blistering early pace got through inside into the stretch and went on to notch a 3 3/4-length win in stakes-record time of 1:23.38.

Ridden by Juan Leyva, Holiday Magic is trained by William Kaplan. Quick as a Bunny was up by a head for second over even-money favorite Legal Laura.

* In the seven-furlong Sophomore Sprint, Prudhoe Bay was angled to the middle of the track in upper stretch and was able to run down the leaders in the final strides.

Ridden by Angel Serpa and trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., Prudhoe Bay was up for a head decision over Brothersofthetime with favored C. Zee another neck back. Prudhoe Bay ($14.60) covered the distance in 1:22.58, less than a second off the track record.

* In the Sophomore Turf, Ex Pirate turned out to be a handful for jockey Daniel Centeno but settled down after bearing out early in the 1 1/16-mile race move clear into the stretch and held sway late for a 2 ¾-length victory .

Trained by Ralph Ziadie, Ex Pirate posted his third win from four local starts and returned $7.60 after covering the distance over a firm turf course in 1:43.42. I’m the Lucky One held on for second by a neck over Best Plan Yet with favored Courtesan fourth