Two classy sprinters in Super

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Powerful Touch, fresh from a seven-length optional claiming victory at Gulfstream Park, and Sir Shackleton, making his first start since the Breeders' Cup Classic, should vie for favoritism in Saturday's $50,000 Super Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Jose Lezcano, the meet's leading rider, is named on the Bobby Frankel-trained Powerful Touch at 122 pounds. Powerful Touch and Sir Shackleton were both supplemented to the stakes at a cost of $1,500.

Jeremy Rose will be up from Miami to ride Sir Shackleton, who carries 116 pounds under the allowance conditions of the seven-furlong stakes.

After being sidelined for more than a year, came back to finish third in the Grade 3 Woodbine Slots Cup at 1 1/16 miles. Off from mid-November until Jan. 11, Powerful Touch was entered in a 7 1/2-furlong optional claiming race at Gulfstream and turned in a sparkling effort, sitting just off a torrid pace of 22.43 and 44.58 seconds, then roaring by the leaders in the stretch and drawing away in 1:28.97, less than a second off the track record.

A winner of 7 of 14 starts, Powerful Touch has come back to work well since that last win.

last win came at seven furlongs last March at Gulfstream. He spent much of 2005 racing with top handicapper horses such as Saint Liam, Ghostzapper, and Perfect Drift. He finished second in the Grade 1 Woodward to Saint Liam and third to Ghostzapper in the Grade 1 Met Mile. He was also third behind Commentator in the Grade 1 Whitney.

The 9-year-old , who overcame traffic problems to take the Pelican Stakes for the third straight year, tops the locally based threats.

Other contenders in the field of 14 older horses include Morine's Victory, who led to the final strides of the Pelican; Pirate King, who was flying along the outside to be beaten less than a length in that race; and Purim, winner of the Grade 3 Arlington Classic on turf last year who will be making his 4-year-old debut.