Tis Duet prepped and ready for Saturday allowance
Tis Duet was ambitiously spotted while returning from a layoff in October, pressing the pace before fading to last in the $75,000 Little Miss Magic Stakes at Gulfstream Park West. With that start under her belt, she might be ready to make a forward move in the featured seventh race Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, a first-level $23,000 allowance covering a mile on grass.
The race drew a full field of 10 fillies and mares ages 3 and up, with four additional runners on the also-eligible list.
In the 1 1/8-mile Little Miss Magic, Tis Duet was beaten 12 lengths by the victorious Kitten’s Dumplings, a three-time graded stakes winner. It was Tis Duet’s first start in three months. Earlier this year on the Gulfstream Park turf, Tis Duet earned Beyer Speed Figures of 75 and 76 for finishing a close third in a $25,000 optional claimer and winning a maiden special weight race, setting the pace both times.
Tis Duet will have Ricardo Feliciano aboard for the first time when she breaks from the rail Saturday.
The field’s highest career turf Beyer, a 77, was earned by Factory of Faith for a creditable fifth-place finish in a rich allowance in September at Kentucky Downs.
Also in the field is Sagittars Stars, who most recently rallied strongly from last to be second, beaten three-quarters of a length, to the favored Grace Margaret in a second-level allowance on the Indiana Grand grass course in September.
KEY CONTENDERS
Tis Duet (Last 3 Beyers: 69-75-28)
◗ Trainer Michelle Nihei shows strong numbers in the relevant categories, including profitable returns on investment of $2.87 in the second start off a layoff and $2.50 on turf.
Factory of Faith (Last 3 Beyers: 71-59-77)
◗ Owns a win and a runner-up finish in four starts on the Tampa turf.
Sagittars Stars (Last 3 Beyers: 69-64-10)
◗ Has been working steadily at the Skylight Training Center for trainer Conor Murphy since her last start, most recently going a half-mile in 48 seconds Nov. 27.
Watch This Cat (Last 3 Beyers: 68-70-68)
◗ The only horse in this field with experience in a graded stakes, she set the pace in the Grade 3 Selene on the Polytrack at Woodbine in May before tiring to finish fifth.
◗ She’s been part of the exacta in three of her four turf starts, including both of her races on this course, and gets the services of two-time leading jockey Antonio Gallardo.