Averill Racing, CCF Racing Stable, and K Lauren Racing's R Angel Katelyn romped to an authoritative win in the $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes for Florida-breds April 2 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, R Angel Katelyn was content to prompt the quick pace set by Joel's Senorita in the Sophomore Fillies. The half went in :45.34, Gonzalez asked for more, and R Angel Katelyn responded. She shook free into the stretch and opened a comfortable lead a furlong out. Gonzalez kept his filly focused to the finish and R Angel Katelyn hit the wire in 1:23.22 for seven furlongs, with 3 3/4 lengths to spare.
Bred by Craig Wheeler, the High Cotton filly out of the Southern Halo mare Send for an Angel was a $50,000 purchase from the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s June 2-year-old and horses of racing age sale in 2016. The win was the fifth from seven starts for the Gerald Bennett trainee. Kiaran McLaughin trainee Sadie be Good came from well off the pace to finish second best in the field of nine. Yes I'll Go was third.
Also on the Tampa Bay card full of Florida-bred stakes:
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Grade 1 winner World Approval made his 2017 debut a winning one when he pulled away from Go Around late for a 2 1/4-length win in the $100,000 EG Vodka Turf Classic. Ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Mark Casse, World Approval covered the nine furlongs over a firm turf course in 1:48.02. The Northern Afleet gelding out of the With Approval mare Win Approval is a Live Oak Plantation homebred.
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MK Stable's Tiger Blood blew past the leaders into the stretch and went on to post a 4 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Hilton Garden Inn/Hampton Inn and Suites Sprint Stakes. Trained by Darian Rodriguez and ridden by Pablo Morales, the Cowtown Cat colt covered six furlongs in 1:08.92.
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Marco Thoroughbred Corp's Mo Cash posted a neck win in the $100,000 Ocala Breeders' Sales Sophomore Stakes. Trained by Ronald Spatz, Mo Cash won the seven-furlong race by a neck.
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Stonehedge's Muggsamatic came from well off the pace to post a 23-1 upset in the $100,000 14 Hands Winery Sophomore Turf Stakes. Ridden by Ronnie Allen Jr., the Any Given Sunday colt closed from eighth to win by two lengths.
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Glen Hill Farm's homebred Family Meeting outfinished a host of rivals to capture the $100,000 Pleasant Acre Stallions Distaff Turf Stakes by a head. The Sky Mesa filly covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.27 for trainer Tom Proctor.
