International Racing: Tampa Bay Downs – Wednesday 01 April 2020 (Turf/Dirt)

Tampa Bay Downs plays host to a very competitive eight-race programme. AUNT IRENE races in the first and she is the best bet on the day. She finished a creditable second last time and should go one better today. 

Best Bet: AUNT IRENE (Race 1)
Value Bet: MAMBO DANCER (Race 4) 

Race 1 
AUNT IRENE is the best bet on today’s card. She has good formlines to her credit. She finished runner-up in her last start over six furlongs on this course. The daughter of Haynesfield doesn’t meet the strongest of fields today and should go one better. EARTHA showed some good improvement in her last start over seven furlongs on this course. If repeating that effort, she should pose a big threat to the top choice. STAND DE ORO has finished third in her last two outings. She showed good pace last time and if adopting the same tactics here, she may be hard to peg back in the closing stages. CHANNELED’S ANGEL is an unraced 3yr old filly. The betting market will be the best guide with regards to her chances.

Race 2
HUBBA BUBBA was touched off in his last start over slightly further on this course. If repeating that run in this type of field, he should find himself in the winner’s enclosure. OLD FORT has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He has a decent record on this grass surface with three seconds and two third-place finishes from ten outings. Jesus Castanon retains the ride and should the top rating fluff his lines, the pair may be the ones to pick up the pieces. AMERICAN DRIVEN didn’t have much luck in his last start and should have finished closer to the winner as a result. If all goes according to plan from his good draw today, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. PURRS AGAIN has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings and must be included in all bets. 

Race 3 
POZNAN was beaten by the narrowest of margins in his last start over seven furlongs on this course. The slight drop in trip will suit him well and with Angel Suarez retaining the ride, he has a good chance of going one better today. MOZANO has shown good improvement in his last two starts. His only placing to date has come over today’s distance and he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post. THREE OLIVEZ has finished runner-up in his last two outings. He didn’t have much luck in running last time as he was slow away, bumped and raced three-wide around the turn. If all goes his way during the race, he may be the one to throw out the biggest challenge. CLIFFY is an unraced son of Revolutionary. Any betting support for him will need to be taken seriously. 

Race 4
MAMBO DANCER is the value bet on today’s card. She produced a good first run for her new conditioner last time. She is a versatile sort who is suited both to the turf and dirt surfaces. On best form shown, she may be the one they all have to beat. MARMALADE is an emergency acceptor with good solid formlines to her name. If she gets a run today, she must be included in all bets. SCARLET BOW is a winner in her last three starts. The slight concern for this daughter of Oxbow is that she is yet to place over this distance from three attempts. However, she is in top form and cannot be left out. ELUSIVE RYDER was an impressive winner of her last outing. If repeating that run, she should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.

Race 5 
NEVER HAVE I EVER is much better than his recent form suggests. He hasn’t had his own way in front recently, but if able to get there today, he may be hard to peg back in the closing stages. PERP has fair recent formlines to his credit. He was beaten just two lengths by the winner in his last start, and if repeating that outing, he should pose a big threat to the top selection. GAME DAY DRAMA has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He was his own worst enemy last time as he ducked at a crucial stage in the race. If keeping on a straight line, he may be one of the leading contenders for top spot. SENT FROM HEAVEN has come back to best form in his last four starts. His wide draw is of no concern as he has the early gate speed to get across without using up too much energy.

Race 6
MARCHENWALD was beaten by just a neck in her last start over this course and distance. She raced from a handy position that day and challenged all the way to the line. If repeating that effort in this contest, she has a good chance of notching up her first career victory. DAKOTA BEACH was well beaten into second in her last start. She does not meet the strongest of opposition today and could be the biggest threat to the top selection. FLORIDA RUST last start was a tad disappointing after some fair form prior to that. Kevin Mendez knows her well and on best form shown, she should be right there in the run down to the finishing post. GONEASAGIRLCANGET was beaten just 0.75 lengths in her last start. The slight concern is that she might be better suited to the dirt surface. However, if transferring her best form from the dirt to the turf, she may be involved in the firing line.

Race 7 
SKY MISCHIEF is lightly raced and all three of those efforts have been decent. It must be noted that his best run has been over this course and distance. In this type of field, he looks very hard to beat. SENSE OF JUSTICE produced a promising debut effort when finishing five lengths off the winner. He would have gained from the experience and with the natural improvement that is expected, he should be right there at the finish. CARMICHAEL produced a fair debut effort at Keeneland. He too would have come on from the run and should make the natural progression. BATTLE RAGS is an unraced son of War Front. The betting market will be the best guide with regards to his chances. 

Race 8
OUR COUNTRY has produced some decent form since winning his maiden race. He runs well over this distance with a record of a win and a third-place finish from four outings. From his mid-field draw, he may be the one to side with here. BITCOIN PASSION was an impressive winner on debut over this course and distance. He does take on stronger today, but the manner in which he won that day suggests that there is definitely more to come. ALLEY OOP JOHNNY followed his maiden victory up with a decent effort last time. He is the likely frontrunner in this event and may be hard to peg back in the closing stages. ME AND MR. C has fair recent form to his credit. He runs well on this course and must be included in all bets.