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After unveiling a new promotion on Wednesdays in January, the marketing team at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET has opted to wheel it back for another month! For those new to things or that missed the promo in January it is simple. Just bet $50 on both Tampa Bay Downs and Turfway Park on any Wednesday in February and get a $10 bonus. The first of 4 “Wednesday Wins” opportunities comes tomorrow where they should be back in action in Kentucky. Just be sure to register for this new promo on the landing page. Here are a few horses I will be leaning on to kick off the week at Tampa and Turfway.
Race 4: Tampa Bay Downs
This two-turn turf event for maiden claimers drew an oversubscribed field of non-winners available for $32k, including #2 Thirsted. The New York-bred makes his first start of 2026 and under the handling of trainer Darien Rodriguez after four starts at Aqueduct this fall for veteran conditioner Michelle Nevin. Rodriguez is having an excellent meet thus far winning 7 of 30 starters heading into the new racing week and this Frosted gelding should have a pace advantage on the stretch out to a route of ground for the first time. The pedigree suggests the added ground should not be an issue, so hopefully jockey Cipriano Gil can get him out of the gate in good order and relax him on the backstretch. If so, his 5-1-ML offering could prove favorable.
Play: #2 Thirsted (5-1 ML)
Race 4: Turfway Park
This competitive second-level allowance at the tricky 6.5-furlong distance goes through #8 My Own. The Tapwrit gelding comes off a dominant win against first-level allowance foes on January 8. He had things his way that day and could again here, but I prefer 7-time winner #5 The Great Oz. The 8YO gelding makes his second start over this surface and since entering the Joe Sharp barn late last year. His lone try over the Turfway synthetic was a good one where he relaxed nicely in the pocket and put forth a strong second to a runner for Mike Maker that has really taken to the move to Florence. I like that this son of Liam’s Map is capable of going to the front or sitting just off the early pace. Either way, I expect a strong performance with Joe Ramos taking the call for the initial time.
Play: The Great Oz (4-1 ML)
Race 8: Turfway Park
Trainer Larry Rivelli enters two in this $50k claimer for non-winners of two at six-furlongs, including my top choice #8 Flame Dancer. The daughter of Flameaway made her first start over the all-weather on December 4 for former trainer Arnaud Delacour and it was better than the fourth-place finish suggests. The 4YO gal broke well and was down on the inside in a speed duel through the early stages of that race versus similar late last year and eventually gave way to a trio of runners from off the pace. I expect Flame Dancer to get a much different type of trip on Wednesday evening given the move to an outside draw, plenty of speed signed on her to inside, and a rider switch to the more patient Walter Rodriguez. A stalk and pounce voyage from the outside should be good enough to get her to the wire first for the third time in her career.
Play: #8 Flame Dancer (3-1 ML)
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