Weep No More wins stakes debut in Suncoast Stakes

OLDSMAR, Fla. – The connections of Weep No More had nothing to cry about Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, where the filly won her second consecutive race and got her first stakes victory in the $60,000 Suncoast Stakes.

Weep No More raced off the pace toward the inside in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies and was in eighth place after eventual runner-up Valueable Charmer took the field through a quarter-mile in 23.37 seconds and a half-mile in 47.61. Under jockey Victor Lebron, Weep No More ($29.60) advanced on the inside around the final turn, tipped outside for running room in upper stretch, and surged clear by 2 3/4 lengths, finishing the one mile and 40 yards on a fast track in 1:41.69.

Weep No More, a daughter of Mineshaft owned by Glenn S. Bromagen, had won her maiden here Jan. 22 under Lebron, taking a $20,600 maiden special weight race by 1 3/4 lengths. The filly has won two of her three career starts for trainer Rusty Arnold and has earned $42,269.

“I watched the replay of how she ran last time and wanted to give her the same trip because the way she reacted in that race was amazing,” Lebron said. “As soon as I pushed the button, she was there. They were a little spread out going in the turn, so I kind of pushed the button just a little bit earlier this time just to put myself in a better spot so that if anything happened, I had the option to go inside or outside.”

Valueable Charmer held second by half a length over Smart Shopping, who was favored after winning her only prior start in November at Churchill Downs. They were followed by Missalaney, Wild Ridge, Cosmic Girl, Hey Girl Hey, Looking At Beauty, and Holders Season.