17:24 – DRIVE IN @ 13/8
Donnameup drops slightly down in grade following a fourth-place finish in a 20k maiden claimer here last month and was previously third behind Wildcat Merry in February. However, Drive In for trainer Chad Stewart is our selection following a staying-on second behind Tipsy Again last month. That form has worked out well with Tipsy Again securing another victory here on Wednesday.
17:53 – FINALLY @ 6/4
Lastfortinofamily has been outclassed by better horses in five career starts to date but drops into a 16k maiden claimer tonight and is shortlisted. Fifth of November showed minor improvement here last month, but In Honor of Artie and Finally should fight out the finish. There’s little between the two horses, but out pick stayed on slightly better on debut when these raced against each other last month.
18:21 – CANDY COVE @ 5/2
A poor 5k claimer for our third race of the night at Tampa Bay over 6.5-furlongs with Unspoiled Moments and Candy Cove with the best recent form. Never Have I Ever is shortlisted dropping back in grade and trip tonight, but Candy Cove can land the double. Juan Arriagada’s runner won a similar contest here last month and can sit just off the pace under jockey Raul Mena to secure another win.
18:52 – HONESTA @ 2/1
Ornery Angel and Talk Nice are interesting runners having raced in better races recently and both step up to one mile for this claimer. Born to Groove and Bella Linda are others for the short-list in an open race where Honesta is our tentative selection. The three-year was second here last month and I’d expected jockey Tomas Mejia to sit handy with his mount dropping back in trip to win tonight.
19:22 – ONE MORE DRINK
Another trappy contest with a host of exposed runners for a maiden claimer raced slightly over the mile trip. One More Drink has been consistent and placed five times from eight career starts to date and will be handy under top jockey Daniel Centeno. The lightly raced Shift the Blame along with Papa Ralph J, Silent Mischief, Captainontherocks and Privilegio are others you can’t discount.
19:53 – SINATRA DEVIL @ 13/8
Sinatra Devil broke his maiden here over course and distance in February for trainer Edward Allard and can get back to winning ways tonight. Wilmar Garcia remains in the saddle and the return to 8.5-furlongs while also dropping in grade are positives to seal victory. Bats Chance is the main danger and could try to dominate from the front but might fade backwards late on.
20:24 – MS GENUINE (NAP EACH-WAY) @ 8/1
A wide-open affair with R D Have Faith, Tale of V K, Tornero and Risen Change all winners when last seen on the racetrack. Tale of V K had a number of these behind when securing back to back wins in February but Ms Genuine looks a value each-way selection. The mount of Wilmar Garcia drops back into a 12.5k claimer and is a model of consistency – she’ll be raced forward again tonight and has only finished out of the top three places twice in eight starts at Tampa Bay.
20:55 – Lion CHARMER (NEXT BEST) @ 2/1
The best race in terms of quality ends the card at Tampa Bay with a 25k claimer over the one-mile trip. Lion Charmer has been consistent for connections and broke his maiden here last month and should strike-again for trainer Robert O’Connor. Angel Suarez remains in the saddle tonight and a gate to wire success could be on the cards in a race with little pace – catch me if you can in the lucky last.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- The Boys in Green: Six magic moments from Ireland’s golden era
- Paddy Power’s complete guide to the only Euro league left… in Belarus
- Don’t feel sorry for Mick McCarthy… he’s been well paid for what he’s done