Saturday, January 14, 2012

PROSPECTIVE WINS THE PASCO STAKES!

Prospective swept five wide around the turn and flew home in the stretch to win the $75,000 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs this afternoon, stamping himself as a contender for the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) next month.

After just a bit of a slow start, Prospective found himself next-to-last early on under jockey Luis Contreras, some six lengths off of the pace. Seven Kind was the early leader, carving out fractions of :22.82 and :46.09 while leading Talented Whiz by a length. Favored Adirondack King was back in sixth.

Entering the homestretch, Seven Kind still led the way, but Wildcat Creek and For Oby were making strong bids to challenge, and Seven Kind soon dropped back en route to finishing seventh. For Oby's run stalled as well, leaving Wildcat Creek with the lead in deep stretch. But Prospective was flying home on the far outside, making up two lengths inside the final eighth of a mile to win by a half-length. The final time was 1:23.88.

Wildcat Creek finished clearly best of the rest, while Adirondack King rallied mildly to grab third. Burning Time, For Oby, Moroccan Brew, Seven Kind, Angelofdistinction, Talented Whiz, and Spirit Amour completed the order of finish. Unfortunately, For Oby broke down and fell shortly after the finish of the race. I have not yet heard if he is all right.

As for the winner, he is trained by Mark Casse and owned by John Oxley. Seeing that Prospective's biggest win to date came in the mile and a sixteenth Grey Stakes (gr. III) over Woodbine's Polytrack, it appears as though Prospective is not merely a sprinter; rather, it appears as though he is a very talented horse who -- while perhaps best in route races -- is talented enough to win a sprint stakes in sharp fashion.

-Keelerman

No comments:

Post a Comment