Tappinintovictory just needs repeat of last

Tappinintovictory was the longest shot on the board at 68-1 in his last start but he didn’t run like it, and he will be a much shorter price in the Friday feature at Tampa Bay Downs, a second-level $32,000 optional-claiming race at a mile and 40 yards.

Tappinintovictory turned in a gritty effort last out in the $100,000 Richard W. Small Stakes at Laurel Park on Nov. 15, racing in contention throughout and finishing fourth after being nailed on the wire for third. He was fanned wide on the first turn, moved with eventual winner Stormin Monarcho on the far turn, and then was floated wide again into the stretch.

Tappinintovictory was beaten 4 1/4 lengths that day, and a similar effort will make him formidable against easier rivals on Friday. Stormin Monarcho came out of his 2 3/4-length victory in the Small to take the $100,000 Swatara at Penn National. Small runner-up Page McKenney, who defeated Tappinintovictory by 1 1/2 lengths, came back to finish second, beaten a half-length, in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Park.

Tappinintovictory has been in steady training for John Rigattieri and has four December works at Tampa. Like five other entrants in Friday’s eight-horse field, Tappinintovictory has been entered for the $32,000 claiming price.

Daniel Centeno, second in the Tampa standings, again rides Tappinintovictory, whom he has ridden in four of his last five starts, including three victories.

More Zen Tea has won four of his last five starts, including his Tampa meet debut. Previously owned and trained by Finger Lakes horseman M. Anthony Ferraro, More Zen Tea will debut for Ridenjac Racing and trainer Dennis Ward.

Ghost Hunter, who has been racing competitively at this level for Jamie Ness, also figures.

◗ The eighth race is a one-mile maiden on turf for 3-year-old fillies. Two first-time starters to watch are A Rosefor Isabelle and Inside Out.

A Rosefor Isabelle is a half-sister to Cool Samurai, a winner of 2 of 5 starts who is in training at Santa Anita with John Shirreffs. Although he has never run on turf, Cool Samurai has a Santa Anita maiden win and an Aqueduct allowance win.

A Rosefor Isabelle, a daughter of Hard Spun who is trained by Gerald Bennett, was purchased for $26,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale, a month before Cool Samurai made his career debut, a second-place finish to Wicked Strong at Belmont Park.

Inside Out is a daughter of Colonel John, the sire of the promising My Johnny Be Good, who was highly impressive last weekend at Tampa, winning an optional-claiming race for 2-year-olds.

Inside Out is trained by Arnaud Delacour, who has a very good record with first-time starters.

FORMULATOR FACT: In the past three years, Delacour has won with 9 of 44 first-time starters (20 percent) and has a positive return on investment of $2.21.

Although his figures dip a bit with first-time starters on turf, they are still quite good. Delacour has won with 3 of 22 first-time starters on turf the past three years (14 percent) and has an ROI of $1.92.