Tampa Bay Downs: Rising Fever does the job

Taking advantage of a sizeable opening along the rail, jockey Daniel Centeno sent favored Rising Fever to the front in the turn of the seven-furlong $65,000 Manatee Stakes, then held Star Operator at bay through the stretch for a 1 1/4-length victory in the filly-and-mare headliner.

Sent off as the strong favorite in the field of seven, Rising Fever returned $3.40 for her first United States win. Trained by Christophe Clement, Rising Fever covered the distance over a fast racing strip in 1:25.22. Star Operator was easily second-best, 5 1/4 lengths in front of Dee's Rose in third place.