Tight race in Tampa trainer standings

A fierce battle atop the trainer standings has unfolded at the 2017-18 meet, with Kathleen O’Connell maintaining a 32-30 lead over Gerald Bennett, the perennial local kingpin who has steadily chipped away at the margin in recent weeks. Into Wednesday, Bennett had sent out 163 starters to O’Connell’s 136.

Among jockeys, Antonio Gallardo continues to lead Daniel Centeno by a 77-67 margin, with Samy Camacho emerging as a clear-cut third with 50 wins.

◗ Noble Thought is listed as a 4-5 program favorite by Tampa linemaker John Rose for the Wednesday feature, a $24,500 third-level allowance. The one-mile turf race splits the card as the fifth of nine races on a program that starts at 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

◗ Unlike at Gulfstream Park across the peninsula, there will be no racing at Tampa on April 1 because of the Easter holiday.