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With Derby Success, Downs Is 'On An Upswing'

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By BART O'CONNELL Tribune correspondent

Published: December 7, 2007

Updated: 12/07/2007 12:22 am

OLDSMAR - Seven months ago, Allison De Luca watched the Kentucky Derby from a finish-line box seat at Churchill Downs. She witnessed firsthand the excitement that surrounds horse racing's biggest event.

Though it wasn't her first Kentucky Derby, it was her first as Tampa Bay Downs' racing secretary. And the winner - Street Sense - became the first horse to prep at TBD and capture the first leg of the Triple Crown.

After watching the race, De Luca couldn't help but start thinking about the upcoming 94-day meet, which begins Saturday, and building on that success.

"You're always hoping that you're going to get the Derby winner, and I was excited our horse won," she said. "Maybe in New York and Kentucky, they're more used to that than we are.

"But it wasn't just Street Sense. A lot of great horses came through here last season. Things are definitely on an upswing."

Though TBD remains a relatively small track in comparison to the venerable facilities in Kentucky, California, the Northeast and even South Florida, the Oldsmar Oval has continued to go against industry trends as its handles (money wagered on races) have increased annually.

Now, improving race quality seems to be an attainable goal as well. Last week, the track learned that two more of its stakes races (Florida Oaks, Endeavour) were awarded Grade III status, giving TBD four graded stakes on its schedule. De Luca described the upgrades as "very significant" in terms of drawing top trainers and their horses to the track.

Obviously, better race quality leads to more fan interest and more wagering, but management also committed $1 million to upgrading the facility, including renovations to the grandstand, paddock and backstretch areas.

The most noticeable change is a new 30-table poker room with a finish-line view located on the grandstand's third floor.

The old poker room, on the second floor, has been transformed into a bar, complete with a museum-quality exhibit on famed thoroughbred Seabiscuit that will be displayed year-round.

Track officials estimate poker income will add $1 million over the next year to race purses, making it "an integral part of the Tampa Bay Downs experience," said TBD vice president and general manager Peter Berube. The room opens in its new location today at 5 p.m.

In addition, the track did away with Twin-Trifecta wagering and added a Pick 6 to be offered for the final six races each day. Takeouts were reduced on Win, Place, Show, Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagering as well.

The 2006-07 leading trainer, Jamie Ness, and jockey, Daniel Centeno, are returning to defend their titles.

One notable loss to the jockey colony from last year is Jose Lezcano, who plans to ride primarily in South Florida this winter.

Saturday's featured race will be the $65,000 Lightning City Stakes for older fillies and mares.

But De Luca and Stakes Coordinator Duane Christo are already looking ahead to February's Sam F. Davis Stakes and March's Tampa Bay Derby. They hope to lure top Kentucky Derby hopefuls such as War Pass, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, to begin prepping for next year's Derby in Oldsmar.

"I just want to have a really great meet," said De Luca, "and get people nationwide to start thinking about Tampa."

Bart O'Connell can be reached at boconnell@pop.tampatrib.com.

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