The Tampa Bay Downs entry box was overflowing for the card this Friday, Jan. 9. All four legs of the 50-cent Late Pick 4 drew full fields of 10 with several others waiting their turn on the also-eligible list. That’s 10,000 combinations to choose from. Here’s a closer look with a suggested $72 play.
TAM 6th race (2:58 p.m. EST) -- Had trouble narrowing the list of contenders with half the field arriving from different venues with a combined 2-for-41 record at 6F. BLOODY COLORS WAVE is appealing with a 6/1-2-1 mark at the distance and two good races on conventional dirt, including a third-place rally as the favorite in her local audition last out. Still going to go 8-deep in leadoff leg of the Pick 4, with fewer options to follow.
TAM 7th race (3:28 p.m. EST) -- SPECIALAGENTJONSON was a model of consistency with an 8/1-4-1 record in turf route races last year, but he was on the wrong end of three photo finishes and seeks his first win in eight tries on the Tampa lawn. He could have class-rising AEGON TARGARYEN to catch after he ‘shook free into the far turn’ and held safe a trio of deep closers to prevail at one mile with a 79 Beyer, the par for this level.
TAM 8th race (3:58 p.m. EST) -- PARTY HARDY stalked a fast pace in the 5-path and got up to finish an improved third at 7F behind a next-out, odds-on repeat winner. He draws the rail for his third start after five months away and has a long-distance victory on his resume to summon. YEMREHANACRISTOS ranged up on the leaders while in-hand and made a winning-type move in a longer route race, only to flatten out late as THEO’S THUNDER sustained a 5-wide rally to finish ahead of him in second. Both runners are live in here.
TAM 9th race (4:28 p.m. EST) -- Not much separating this field, with mid-60 Beyer types galore in this $25,000/nw3 claimer on the turf. BONITA BREEZE is a must use off a troubled trip despite drawing post 10. In her prior start, she rallied inside and past the two favorites but was out-kicked by Princess Javoncia, a nine-time winner and $320k earner on the lawn. On top of that, the fifth and seventh-place finishers won right back with low 70 Beyers, respectively. Her former stablemate, SEA SHANTY, makes the ticket at a good price. She won grass routes at Laurel Park and Delaware and new trainer Gerald Bennett is 42 for his last 293 (14 percent) turf starters in the last five years. BUDDHIST PRODIGY lost all chance when her saddle slipped in her first start off a nine-month layoff, but she can’t be overlooked. She stalked a soft pace 4-wide and out-kicked the odds-on favorite to win on the Gulfstream Park lawn two back and gets more pace to rally into today from the rail.
Suggested 50-Cent Ticket
TAM 6th Race: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
TAM 7th Race: 4, 6
TAM 8th Race: 1, 4, 9
TAM 9th Race: 1, 9, 10
Cost: $72
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