With numerous tracks canceling racing on Saturday due to weather or, as in Santa Anita’s case, the tragic forest fires, TAMPA BAY DOWNS was one of the top tracks to draw interest. It helped that the popular track had a few stakes races and many top jockeys from Gulfstream headed north for the day.
One of the world’s most successful riders, IRAD ORTIZ JR. made the trip to Tampa but it is likely a rare day the jockey would like to forget.
Riding the promising 3-year-old colt OWEN ALMIGHTY (Speightstown) in the $150,000 Pasco Stakes, a colt whom he guided to a second place finish in last year’s Grade 2 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, Ortiz made a miscue that cost the horse the victory.
Not only did Flying Dutchmen Breeding and racing and trainer Brian Lynch watch the colt be demoted from first to fifth, but a large show bet by a punter went out the window.
Naughty Rascal, trained by Canadian born Gerry Bennett, was placed first after trying to get past the plucky Owen Almighty through the stretch run.
“You haven’t run enough horses if you haven’t been in a position like this,” said Lynch. “(Ortiz said) he felt like (Alvarado) was out of horse and he was backing out of there anyway. It’s just a very unfortunate thing.”
Dueling inside of Naughty Rascal but just outside of Rookie Card, Owen Almighty dipped down into the turn causing Junior Alvarado aboard Rookie Card to check his colt hard. Alvarado eventually just stopped riding his mount and wound up some 25 lengths in arrears at the finish.
Owen Almighty eventually powered away to a one-length-in before the inquiry sign flashed. There was $106,000 bet to show on Owen Almighty compared to $33,000 bet to place. That led to good show payoffs on the top three finishers.
Naughty Rascal was ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, who had high praise for the Florida-bred son of Rogueish out of Baby Doll, by Smarty Jones. “He got a little tired late, but he did everything I asked,” Gonzalez said. “He proved himself. He tried hard and put it right there for me.”
Naughty Rascal is 4-for-6, and first-place money of $62,500 raised his career earnings to $220,630. He is owned by Mr Pug LLC and J.P.G. 2 LLC, the partnership of Ron Pugliese and Jim Georgeades. The winning time was 1:22.50.
It was a rough day all around for Ortiz. He began his day in race 3, rallying even-money favourite Cease Fire to a fourth place finish in his career debut. He landed fourth on Mrs Worldwide at even money in the Gasperilla Stakes and a very troubled fourth on Back to Gridlock in a maiden race.
In the wayward lass Stakes aboard Piegnoir (also at even money), Ortiz had the filly waiting on the rail for room for the last half of the race but never found it and eventually had to pull her back and angle out. They would up second. ortiz’s day ended with a sixth place finish on 3 to 5 favourite Shade of Pale in a maiden turf race.
Pedigree notes: Trainer Bennett is aiming Naughty Rascal for the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby. The colt is a Florida bred from the first crop of Solera Farm stallion Rogueish, by Into Mischief. The sire won his only race and is off to a fast start at stud.
Naughty Rascal’s dam is Ontario bred Baby Doll by Smarty Jones, bred by the late David Cassidy and co-breeder Edward seltzer. Baby Doll has produced four other winners.
Naughty Rascal’s third dam is Canadian (BC) bred SAND PIRATE, bred by Russ and Lois Bennett and raced by Cassidy. Sand Pirate had at least 8 winners including Cassidy’s star filly Sweet Vendetta, who won the 2008 Black Eyed Susan Stakes.
Sand Pirate produced Doll Baby, a stakes winner and second dam of the Pasco winner.
Originally a $22,000 OBS Winter Mixed Sale ‘short’ yearling, Naughty Rascal brought $39,000 at the OBS March 2-year-old sale last year.
-with files from Tampa Bay Downs media
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
