Horse racing tips: 8 to make you save the date for Friday at Tampa Bay

We head back to Tampa Bay on Friday with an eight-race card getting underway at 17:24. Jockey Samy Camacho had four-winners here on Wednesday and has seven booked rides.

17:24 – FIERY OPAL @ 3/1

Following his four-timer here on Wednesday all eyes in every race tonight will be focused on Samy Camacho’s mounts. He’s booked by trainer Ger Bennett on Brandt who at a bigger price is looking to bounce back to form. Wilshire Star and Browns Gap meet again, but Fiery Opal looks the solid pick – he’s back from a break and has been knocking on the door in claimers of late and deserves a change of luck for trainer Dale Bennett.

17:53 – FREE DANCER @ 11/4

We drop to 5-furlongs for our second claimer on the card at Tampa Bay with a handful of contenders among a big field. Sindarius stayed on well when dropping back to five-furlongs here in February, but Free Dancer is more intriguing for Ger Bennett.

It would be wise to forgive his recent poor run over a mile and his drop back in trip tonight with Samy Camacho booked are two major positives.

18:21 – DAD’S YANKEES @ 5/2 (NAP)

Northern is an interesting runner dropping back in grade for Gary Wales with No Choice and Mr. Kisses also in with chances. No Choice won nicely here last month and steps back up in trip, but Dad’s Yankees might be hard to catch from the front in this claimer.

He never looked in trouble when winning here last month and a number of those in behind have ran well already this week.

18:52 – WICKED BOY @ 9/4

A strong pace looks likely in this 8.5-furlong claimer with Meilleur and Tiz Samurai just two likely pacesetters in this contest – in a match bet.

Meilleur looks the better bet coming out of stall four under Charles Lopez. Wicked Boy ran fourth last month, but his off the pace victory two-starts back could see him fly late for the place.

19:22 – THORCERESS @ 16/5

Samy Camacho teams-up yet again with Ger Bennett in this 1-mile claimer with Lady Breanna but looks little value and one to side against. Camacho guided Dude’s Secret to success latest and could strike-again, but Thorceress is the pick to land a hat-trick.

She travelled well to win a maiden claimer in February before following up again in early March – expect here to challenge late off a strong pace again tonight.

19:53 – EXCHEQUER @ 5/2

Twelve runners for the one-mile allowance contest with seven of these horses all managing to secure victories when last seen on the racetrack. Count Again came from the clouds when winning at Keeneland last October and looks interesting on a first start for new trainer Kent Sweezey.

The consistent Exchequer looked to have more in the tank when winning last month and could give the Camacho / Bennett combination another winner on the card tonight.

20:24 – PRINCESS LIVIA @ 11/4 

We drop back to 6-furlongs for the first allowance optional claimer at the backend of the Tampa card on Friday. Itsherluckyday drops back a furlong following a gate to wire win last month and is shortlisted for trainer Tim Hamm.

However, it might be worth sticking with Ger Bennett’s Princess Livia who hacked up here 16-days ago and she’s clearly open to move improvement to win this race.

20:55 – RED CURLS @ 7/1 

Arguably this 8.5-furlong allowance optional claimer is the most competitive race on the Tampa card this Friday. Classy Woman and Distinctive Flower finished behind Another Time here last month, but Red Curls is the value each-way choice for Camacho.

Samy knows the mare well and she ran a solid second (Classy Woman was fourth) when coming from off the pace here back in February.

*Prices correct at publication but are subject to change