With numerous tracks canceling racing on Saturday due to weather or, as in Santa Anita’s case, the tragic wildfires, 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 three-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.
