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Revved Up Captures Chris Thomas Classic

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By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 4, 2008

OLDSMAR - Johnny Collins, longtime farm trainer at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, might know Revved Up better than anyone. Collins has known Revved Up since the horse was born there.

But there is one secret Collins has no intention of passing along to the gray, nearly white, gelding that has won more than $1.5 million: It's not easy to win races at 10 years old.

"He don't know that, and I don't tell him that," Collins joked.

Making his double-digit age debut, Revved Up proved Saturday he can still find another gear down the stretch of a tight turf race.

With Tampa Bay Downs leading jockey Daniel Centeno aboard, and a Kentucky Derby-day crowd of 10,690 on hand, he won The Chris Thomas Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs in come-from-behind fashion. It's the second time in three years he has captured the track's final stakes race of the meet, returning $3.60, $3.20 and $2.60 as the 4-5 favorite.

"He loves this track so much. And to bring him back the first time off of a layoff, this is where he loves it at," Collins said. "He can run at any track, but Tampa seems to be a good track to bring him back on."

Revved Up, whose primary trainer is Christophe Clement, was well-placed by Centeno throughout the 11/8-mile trip, breaking from Post 1 and stalking the early speed of Riversrunrylee and Chaluiwitcane.

With room on the inside, Centeno asked him to run in the final turn, and Revved Up easily passed the leaders and opened its lead on eventual runner-up Victory Alleged, a 17-1 shot ridden by Jose Martinez Jr., through the stretch. I'm Only Laughing was third.

Centeno, 36, has won seven stakes at this meet, highlighting the best season by a jockey in track history. He has 142 wins entering today's meet finale.

"I knew if he did everything right, everything would be fine," Centeno said of Revved Up. "I knew that the horse in front of me was going to stop, and I just waited for the right moment. I let him go, and he took off right away."

Centeno, who leaves Monday for Monmouth Park in New Jersey, also said he plans to return to Oldsmar next season.
Tampa Bay Downs had a co-mingled handle of $7,499,020, the third-most in track history and more than any day other than a Tampa Bay Derby day. The track is offering free admission for today's season finale, a 12-race card that begins at 12:25 p.m.

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