After taking Thursday off, Tampa Bay Downs resumes racing on Friday, May 8. TB Downs’ top event on Friday is the fifth, a $100,000 allowance optional claiming event going 5 furlongs on the turf. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Tampa Bay Downs for Friday, May 8. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Tampa Bay Downs Horse Racing Picks
- When: Friday, May 8 at 12:45 pm ET
- Where: Tampa, FL
- Weather: Sunny
Tampa Bay Downs Picks for Friday, May 8
Race 5 – 2:57 pm ET – 5 Furlongs Turf – $100,000 Allowance Optional Claiming
Trainer Ron Potts puts the saddle on Redeem My Heart. The Redeemed sired 4-year-old filly last ran on Feb. 29. That race was a $40,000 optional claimer going 5 ½ furlongs on the turf at the Fair Grounds. Redeem My Heart shows two bullet works leading up to this. She should get a sweet stalking trip right behind front runners Lady Nina and O’Keeffe.
Regal Chant isn’t bred to like turf. But Timothy Hamm wins 16% first time on the lawn. Also, Chant has 6 wins and a second from 10 lifetime races. This one’s a runner. Horses that love to run don’t care about surface.
Jockey Angel Suarez will try and get Puntsville to relax behind the speed. The Michelle Boyce trained 8-year-old mare is good enough to win this. But Puntsville has just 1 turf win from 8 starts. Also, we don’t know how the veteran mare will respond first time back after a dirt race in February.
- Win: Redeem My Heart
- Place: Regal Chant
- Show: Puntsville
Race 6 – 3:23 pm ET – 1 Mile 40 Yards Dirt –$32,000 Allowance Optional Claiming
Trainer Darien Rodriguez wins 25% at Tampa Bay. Rodriguez saddles I’m a G Six in this optional claimer. The 4-year-old Alternation sired gelding has 3 wins and a third in its last 2 races. Jockey Antonio Gallardo takes the call. Antonio can lead or stalk with the 4-time winner from 8 races over the TBD dirt.
Town Classic failed to menace in the 7-year-old gelding’s last. However, that was at 6 furlongs. The Gerald Bennett trained runner has 3 seconds from 3 races at a mile and 40 yards. Going from Samy Camacho to Daniel Centeno should worry nobody.
Although General Paddy has done its best work in lower-level claiming events, the John Rigattieri trained gelding is tough to leave out of the trifecta. Paddy has a 9-2-2 record from 26 races. The 5-year-old has a 6-2-2 record from 10 races at Tampa.
- Win: I’m a G Six
- Place: Town Classic
- Show: General Paddy
Race 7 – 4:01 pm ET – 1 Mile Turf – $10,000 Claiming
Trainer Robert Raymond wins 2% with horses going dirt to turf. That’s not a good sign for our top choice, Uncle Kevin. But the Tapiture sired 3-year-old gelding has speed in a race lacking it and picks up bug boy Augusto Marin. If no other horse goes with Uncle Kevin, this one can use its sprinters speed to take this gate-to-wire.
Gerald Bennett trained Neat Street finished third in a 1 1/16 mile race at this level and on this turf course in its last. Street made a furious rally that came up short by ½ a length. The 3-year-old gelding should improve off that effort while Bennett wins 22% with horses in claiming races. Consider for the win if you’re not sold on the top choice.
There’s a chance Snow Lion outclasses this field. The Jorge Delgado trainee drops from the $16,000 claiming level. Lion also cuts back in distance to a mile. The gelding has a win and third from 2 races at a mile. Lion may get over bet here.
- Win: Uncle Kevin
- Place: Neat Street
- Show: Snow Lion
