Turf record falls as Emmanuel, Surprisingly take Tampa Bay Downs stakes
Surprisingly and Emmanuel emerged victorious when the first two graded stakes of the 2022-23 Tampa Bay Downs meet were run Saturday in Oldsmar, Fla.
Surprisingly proved narrowly best in the $150,000 Endeavour some 60 minutes before Emmanuel made a splashy return by setting a turf-course record in its male counterpart, the $150,000 Tampa Bay.
Both Grade 3 races were run at 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf as highlights of a 10-race card.
Surprisingly wins Endeavour
Surprisingly, ridden by Paco Lopez, was up in the shadow of the wire to edge Scotish Star by a neck in the 24th Endeavour. Marketsegmentation, the 6-5 favorite in a field of 11 fillies and mares, was just another three-quarters of a length back in third.
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Panama Red led to the top of the stretch before Scotish Star and Marketsegmentation overtook her. In deep stretch, Scotish Star and jockey Javier Castellano appeared on their way to victory before Surprisingly came with a late burst to prevail in 1:40.08.
This was the first stakes win for Surprisingly, a 4-year-old Phipps Stable homebred by Mastery. Shug McGaughey trains her across the Florida peninsula at his main winter base of Payson Park. She returned $9.40 as third choice.
Emmanuel takes Tampa Bay
Emmanuel ($14.60), ridden by Castellano when making his first start in nearly six months, drew off from a tight pack leaving the furlong pole in winning the 37th Tampa Bay in 1:39.25, lowering the former mark set in 1999 by Leggs Galore by .40 seconds.
Winfromwithin, part of the pace throughout, held second, 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner and a neck before Golden Alchemist. The previously unbeaten Chez Pierre, the 3-2 favorite in a field of 12 older horses, was sixth.
Todd Pletcher, who watched from Gulfstream Park, is the trainer of Emmanuel, a 4-year-old More Than Ready colt owned by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm. It was his first start since he was virtually eased in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby in August.
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