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Downs Opens To Optimism

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: December 14, 2008

OLDSMAR - While the economy continues to affect people everywhere, Tampa Bay Downs got some good news as the thoroughbred track opened for its 83rd season.

Saturday's total handle of $4,538,581 from on-site and off-site locations marked a 16 percent increase from last year's record handle. But attendance at the track was 5,471, down from last year's 5,943, and the on-site handle was off by more than $100,000 ($459,535 Saturday compared to $563,222 last year).

"We think the coolness of the day and the overall economy had something to do with the attendance and on-site handle," said Margo Flynn, the track's vice president of marketing and publicity. "Obviously, fans around the country embrace the Tampa Bay signal. The addition of advanced deposit wagering was a huge boost, and we're very pleased they were able to get that done."

The advanced deposit wagering allows bettors to place bets at various Web sites, including Xpressbet.com, myracebet.com, tracknet.com, twinspires.com, TVG.com and YouBet.com.

In the featured race of the day - the $65,000 Lightning City Stakes - Game N Laughin,' ridden by Dean Butler, battled from the start to win the first of 25 stakes races to be offered this season.

The 5-year-old chestnut mare, claimed by Diamond G Ranch on June 19 for $18,000, took the lead at the 3/8th pole and held off Jazzy, who finished eighth in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita in October, and Charlie Papa down the stretch to win by a neck on the turf. Jazzy was second by a head and Charlie Papa was third by a neck in the closest finish of the day.

"She's a pretty fast little filly," said Butler, who earned his first Tampa Bay Downs stakes win. "She's probably a little better off the pace, but she just went on with it on herself and was doing it pretty easy. She was wanting to do it, so I just let her. She finished up real game. Some horses were coming through and I thought she was going to get beat, but she just dug in and kept running."

Game N Laughin' paid $61.40 to win.
Tampa Bay Downs had two former Breeders' Cup horses on the 11-race card. The other, Dream Rush, won the ninth race with defending track jockey champion Daniel Centeno up.

"Having two Breeders' Cup horses here, and one of them getting to the winner's circle, just shows what a quality product is here day after day," Flynn said.

It looked like the day was going to be a feast for favorites. The first three races were won by the bettors' choice, and the second favorite took the fourth race. But in Race 6, Felix Ortiz rode Vivi's Book to victory, and the 3-year-old paid $72.20 for a $2 bet. The $2 Trifecta (10-9-6) paid a whopping $4,446.60.
Tampa Bay Downs introduced a new wager Saturday - the Super High 5 - in the fourth and 11th races. The bettor has to select the first five finishers in exact order. No one selected the exact five in either race, and the carryover pool to Wednesday will be $7,070.22.

Ortiz and Luis Gonzalez lead the first-day jockey standings, as each won two races. Rosemary Homeister Jr. is still at 998 career victories after failing to make the winner's circle in her six mounts.

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