The $150,000 Tampa Bay Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the Feb. 13 Tampa Bay Downs card attracted a dozen older turf runners, headed by graded stakes winners Old Time Hockey, War Correspondent , and Reload .
The 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Stakes is the 10th race on the 12-race card highlighted by the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds.
A Glen Hill Farm homebred trained by Tom Proctor, Old Time Hockey put in a game finish on the outside to just miss catching Lochte in last year's renewal. The 7-year-old gelded son of Smarty Jones subsequently won the Tampa Turf Classic for the second year in a row, was unplaced in two stakes, romped by 19 lengths in allowance company, and won the Millions Turf Preview at Gulfstream Park West.
To be ridden by Ronald Allen under co-topweight of 118 pounds, Old Time Hockey is coming off a late-closing fifth, four lengths behind winner Manchurian High, in the Sunshine Millions Turf over a course rated good at Gulfstream Park Jan. 16 his seasonal debut.
ANGST: Sunshine Millions Repeat for Manchurian High
With a record of 8-5-3 from 35 starts, Old Time Hockey brings a $554,520 bankroll into the race, including a victory in the 2012 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar.
Also weighted at 118 with John Velazquez named to ride, War Correspondent returned from a lengthy layoff with a game in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Jan. 9, pressing the early pace before finishing seventh, three lengths behind winner Heart to Heart.
A 6-year-old War Front horse trained Christophe Clement, War Correspondent won the Appleton Handicap (gr. IIIT) last March before going to the sidelines. The lightly raced horse who has won or placed in eight of nine starts in a career that began in France is owned by Calumet Farm, Sagamore Farm, and Eclipse Thoroughbreds.
HAMMONDS: War Correspondent Captures Appleton
A Phipps Stable homebred trained by Shug McGaughey, Reload has used his stalking style to win seven of 22 starts, with seven second- or third-place efforts. A 7-year-old Hard Spun horse, Reload is making his seasonal debut after finishing 2015 with a close-up third as the favorite in the Artie Schiller Stakes over a yielding turf course at a mile at Aqueduct Racetrack in November. Reload notched his only stakes triumph when he rallied along the rail to win the 2014 Canadian Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) and subsequently was sidelined from Feb. 22 fo that year until May 2015.
Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday, February 13, 2016, Race 10Entries: Tampa Bay S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1War Correspondent (KY) John R. Velazquez 118 Christophe Clement 7/2 2 2Old Time Hockey (FL) Ronald Dale Allen, Jr. 118 Thomas F. Proctor 8/1 3 3A Lot (KY) Jose Lezcano 116 William I. Mott 10/1 4 4Flashy Chelsey (KY) Robby Albarado 116 Robert R. O'Connor, II 30/1 5 5Special Envoy (VA) Daniel Centeno 116 Arnaud Delacour 15/1 6 6Sky Captain (KY) Antonio A. Gallardo 116 Mark E. Casse 5/1 7 7Reload (KY) Javier Castellano 118 Claude R. McGaughey III 6/1 8 8Take the Stand (ARG) Edgar S. Prado 118 William I. Mott 15/1 9 9Spark Kit (KY) Fernando De La Cruz 116 Gerald Russel Aschinger 30/1 10 10Grand Tito (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 116 Gustavo Delgado 4/1 11 11Karibu Gardens (KY) Joe Bravo 116 Josie Carroll 6/1 12 12Solemn Tribute (ON) Julien R. Leparoux 116 Brian A. Lynch 12/1
