By Bob Bauer
Festival Day is the Downs seasonal highlight, with a dozen races on the program. Five Stakes events are featured, capped by the $400,000 Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. First Post time is scheduled for 12:15 PM.
Track conditions as of 10:30 AM: The Downs took some rain early today. The main track is fast and the turf course appears to be good.All the Stakes races will be covered live on RadioStPete.com, including the call from announcer Jason Beem. Air time is three minutes before Post time.
RACE 7, Post time 3:14, is the $225,000 Grade 2 HILLSBOROUGH STAKES for older Fillies and Mares at nine furlongs on turf.
THE BET: A $10 straight exacta part-wheel with BLEEKER STREET (5) on top of three runners ($30). LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE (3), ROCKY SKY (6) and RUNAWAY RUMOUR (7). 5/3,6,7 Total Bet $30
RACE 8, Post time 3:49, Four year-olds and up go eight and one-half furlongs on the main track in the $100,000 Grade 3 CHALLENGER STAKES.
THE BET: $10 to win on WOLFIES DYNAGHOST (1) ($10). Also, a fifty cent four horse trifecta box ($12) with that one and GREATEST HONOR (3), DYNAMIC ONE (4) and CODY’S WORK (9) 1,3,4,9 Total Bet $22
RACE 9, Post time 4:20, is the $200,000 Grade 3 FLORIDA OAKS for sophomore Fillies at eight and one half grassy furlongs.
THE BET: $10 to win and place ($20) on MRS. BARBARA (1). Also, a $2 three horse exacta box ($12) with that one and DOLCE DEL (3) and SPICER (6) 1,3,6 Total Bet $32
RACE 10, Post time 4:51, is the $75,000 COLUMBIA STAKES for three year-olds at a mile on turf.
THE BET: $10 win and place ($20) on BENS MALICE (1) and a $2 exacta part-wheel, up and down, with three horses, ($12) WOKE SURF (2), HEAVEN STREET (5) and KITTEN’S MISCHIEF (3). 1/2,3,5 2,3,5/1 Total Bet $32
RACE 11, Post time 5:23, is the $400,000 Grade 2 TAMPA BAY DERBY, for three year olds at a mile and one sixteenth.
THE BET: $10 win and place ($20) on BELGRADE (10) and a $2 three horse exacta box ($12) with that one and CLASSIC CAUSEWAY (4) and SLIPSATIONAL (9) 4,9,10 Total Bet $32
