Wilkes starts off Positano Sunset's season in Manatee overnight handicap
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OLDSMAR, Fla. – On Saturday, in the $165,000 Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream Park, trainer Ian Wilkes was bringing Into Champagne back to the races in what he hoped to be the start of a productive sprint campaign. On Sunday, at Tampa Bay Downs, Wilkes is looking to do the same with Positano Sunset in the $50,000 Manatee, an overnight handicap at seven furlongs originally scheduled for Saturday but held over to Sunday.
Positano Sunset, a 5-year-old daughter of Goldencents, is seeking her first win since she captured the $150,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park in August 2023. She is winless in seven starts since, but did finish second to Vahva in the Grade 3 Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs last June. The last time Positano Sunset sprinted, she finished second to Zeitlos in the $300,000 Open Mind Stakes at Churchill in September.
Last fall, Positano Sunset made two starts going long in Kentucky, finishing a close second in a two-turn allowance race at Keeneland when allowed to set a soft pace before finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Chilukki last Nov. 23 at Churchill.
“I ran her long at Churchill, a mile is too far for her,” Wilkes said. “Just getting her started. She hasn’t run any good at Gulfstream so I’m going to take her to Tampa.”
Positano Sunset has worked eight times at the Palm Meadows training center in South Florida, including a five-furlong move in 59 seconds, the fastest of 19 works at the distance on Feb. 28.
“She’s ready, no excuses,” Wilkes said.
Positano Sunset drew the outside post in a seven-horse field and will be ridden by Pablo Morales.
Dream Concert enters the Manatee off a runner-up finish behind her stablemate Damaso in a conditioned allowance/optional-claiming event going 1 1/16 miles on turf Feb. 14. The last time Dream Concert went turf to dirt, in September 2023, she won an allowance/optional $50,000 claimer going six furlongs at Parx.
Dream Concert has finished in the money in eight of 10 dirt starts at Tampa, most recently finishing third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in the Wayward Lass at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 14. Dream Concert is 0 for 7 at seven furlongs.
“I don’t like sprinting on the dirt, but it’s the only thing available,” trainer Kathleen O’Connell said. “She’s got a huge stride, it’s a shame I can’t find anything more suitable.”
Hopesndreams, trained by Mike Dini, won a second-level allowance/optional $32,000 claiming race here on Feb. 14, her fifth win from eight starts over Tampa’s main track.
She’s Fire was to scratch from Saturday’s Grade 2 Hills-borough scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on turf to run on dirt for the first time. She did work five furlongs in 1:01.60 from the gate over Tampa’s main track, the fastest of nine works at the distance on Feb. 28.
“Looking for more options with her,” trainer Kevin Rice said. “Haven’t tried it yet.”
Louder Than Words, Drifaros, and Broken Hearts Bay complete the field.
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