March to the Arch Seeks Clean Trip in Tampa Bay Stakes

When a horse tends to linger at the back of the pack in a turf race, in many cases it's the trip that makes the difference between victory and defeat.

For Live Oak Plantation's March to the Arch, that's been a way of life.

In his last 11 starts, the stone-cold closer has encountered trouble, or at least a five-wide trip, in nine of them, explaining a record of three wins and no seconds while finishing within 1 1/2 lengths of the winner in four.

In his last effort, the homebred 5-year-old Arch gelding had his share of issues with a slow break and a five-wide trip, but still managed to win the Jan. 18 Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes. Trainer Mark Casse is hoping for an encore of that result Feb. 8 in the $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs.

On the plus side, the Florida-bred March to the Arch will get the benefit of a ground-saving trip for at least part of the 1 1/16-mile turf test as the grade 2 winner and jockey Tyler Gaffalione landed the rail in a field of nine.

"He's been very close," Casse said. "Watch the replay of his last race at Keeneland and he very easily could have won the race. (The Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream Park) was not as tough but nothing went right for him and he was still able to win. My only small concern is we're coming back quickly, but he loves Tampa."

That Keeneland race was two starts ago in the $1 million Shadwelll Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) when March the Arch was bothered at the start and then fanned five-wide on the final turn and nevertheless managed to finish fifth, only a length behind the victorious Bowies Hero.

Out of the Black Sam Bellamy mare Daveron, and half brother to grade 3 winner Global Access, March to the Arch has a first and second in two starts on turf at Tampa, winning the Touch Vodka Turf Classic Stakes last year.

He has earned $592,294 from a mark of 6-2-1 in 18 starts.

Another closer to watch is Glen Hill Farm's Caribou Club who finished no worse than second in his last three starts, all in stakes company. The 6-year-old City Zip gelding trained by Thomas Proctor is making his 2020 debut after falling a neck short in the Nov. 9 Artie Schiller Stakes on turf at Aqueduct Racetrack. Prior to that, the Florida-bred reeled off wins in the Sept. 21 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Laurel Park and the West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker's Cup on turf at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.

Three Diamonds Farm's Hembree should also be at the back early for trainer Mike Maker. Unraced since finishing fourth by a length in the Aug. 31 Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs, he has a mark of 6-10-4 in 30 starts with earnings of $673,783. He won the 2018 Nearctic Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine for his lone graded stakes win.

The Shadwell Mile was a forgettable experience for Jeffrey S. Amling and Merriebelle Stable's grade 3 winner Real Story, who vied for the early lead while 5-wide but faded to last in the field of 14, beaten by 20 lengths.  Rested since that Oct. 5 start by trainer Ignacio Correas IV, the 5-year-old Fast Bullet gelding should benefit from a field without an abundance of early speedsters.

Real Story captured his lone graded stakes in gate-to-wire fashion by taking the 2018 American Derby (G3T).

Entries: Tampa Bay S. (G3T)

Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday, February 08, 2020, Race 10

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $175,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:59 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1March to the Arch (FL)	Tyler Gaffalione	121	Mark E. Casse	7/2
2	2Devamani (FR)	Joel Rosario	117	Chad C. Brown	8/1
3	3Admiralty Pier (KY)	Samy Camacho	117	Barbara J. Minshall	20/1
4	4Caribou Club (FL)	Jose L. Ortiz	119	Thomas F. Proctor	5/2
5	5Renaisance Frolic (KY)	Antonio A. Gallardo	119	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	15/1
6	6Halladay (KY)	John R. Velazquez	117	Todd A. Pletcher	6/1
7	7Hembree (KY)	Pablo Morales	117	Michael J. Maker	9/2
8	8Real Story (KY)	Jesus Lopez Castanon	117	Ignacio Correas, IV	4/1
9	9My Bariley (KY)	Daniel Centeno	117	Anthony J. Granitz	30/1