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General Quarters Wins Davis Stakes

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY

nmurray@tampatrib.com

Published: February 15, 2009

OLDSMAR - General Quarters shocked a highly regarded field to win the $225,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths from fellow long shot Sumo on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

A 13-1 shot entering the race, General Quarters stayed on the pace for the entire race after Musket Man and A.P Cardinal had set a brisk pace in the 11/16-mile race, and then broke away coming around the final turn.

Jockey James Irons punched the air in delight as he crossed the finish line.

"Absolutely," Irons said. "I took off for two years, and I've been riding for a year-and-a-half again, and this is the biggest stake I've won since I've been back, so it's very, very exciting."

Sumo was a 33-1 long shot at post time, and the duo paid off an $893.80 exacta. Highly touted Free Country, which entered the race undefeated and was bet in to 6-5 before drifting to 2-1 at post time, was well placed in the backstretch, but jockey Kent Desormeaux said his ride never really took to the Tampa Bay Downs surface.

"I think he struggled over the ground a little bit," Desormeaux said.

"It's a different kind of ground, and I'm not sure it was to his liking. He needs something he can get a hold of, that's all I can come up with right now. He was in a good position."

Earlier in the ninth race, Jose Lezcano rode Ballymore Lady to victory in the $125,000 Endeavour Stakes, edging Elusive Lady by a neck after stalking the pace throughout the 11/16-mile turf race.

Long Shot Wins At Gulfstream

HALLANDALE BEACH - How's Your Halo, a 47-1 long shot, wore down Ikigai in the last 70 yards to win the $150,000 Grade 2 Richter Scale Stakes for 4-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.

Bold Start was third and Tale of Ekati, the even-money favorite was fourth in a field of six.

SANTA ANITA: Santa Teresita scored a dramatic 13-1 upset in the $300,000 Santa Maria Handicap.

Under Joe Talamo, Santa Teresita took the lead from pacesetter Briecat on the far turn and steadily widened her lead to 2 1/2 lengths over Marzelline and Model, who dead-heated for second.

Information from Tribune wires was used in this report.

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