King for a Day Returns in Tampa Bay's Challenger Stakes
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Photo: Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
King for a Day (red cap) upsets Maximum Security in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park
Red Oak Stable's King for a Day owns a singular distinction.
In a tasty nugget of racing trivia, the 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo is the only horse who has ever crossed the finish line ahead of Maximum Security.
That happened in June when Maximum Security stumbled coming out of the gate in the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park, and King for a Day surged past him in the final furling to post a one-length victory for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Much has happened since then.
Maximum Security went on to win the TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), Bold Ruler Handicap (G3), Cigar Mile Handicap (G1), and the $20 million Saudi Cup. In between stacking up that mountain of purse money, he was named the champion 3-year-old of 2019.
Meanwhile, life was not as regal for King for a Day.
Amid high expectations for a rematch with Maximum Security in the Haskell, King for a Day battled for the early lead but dropped back on the final turn and wound up fifth.
He then faded from sight and headed to the sidelines for the remainder of the year.
Back in training, King for a Day will return from a seven-month hiatus March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs when he faces seven rivals in the $100,000 Challenger Stakes (G3), a 1 1/16-mile test that will be contested as a graded stakes for the first time.
A Kentucky homebred out of the French Deputy mare Ubetwereven, King for a Day has won three of six starts. He successfully handled a layoff last year, taking the May 18 Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico after a six-month break.
The main contenders Saturday also include Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford's Admiralty Pier, who will be switching back to the main track.
Trained by Barbara Minshall, he won the Feb. 8 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) on turf by a nose in his previous start. Before that, he won by two lengths in an allowance optional claimer that was shifted to the main track.
That Dec. 29 victory marked the lone start on a fast dirt track in the son of English Channel 's 18-race career.
JCA Racing Stable's Trophy Chaser, trained by Juan Avila, comes into the Challenger after an impressive 8 1/4-length victory in a Feb. 2 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.
Saturday's race will mark the son of Twirling Candy 's first appearance in a graded stakes since the 2019 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2), when he finished a distant third.
Harold Queen's Noble Drama, a Florida-bred son of Gone Astray, seeks a third consecutive win for trainer David Fawkes after returning from an eight-month absence and rolling to an allowance optional claiming score, followed by a head victory in the Jan. 18 Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Before the Challenger Stakes on the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Day card, a field of 10 will square off in the $75,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf.
Beverly Anderson and Edward Seltzer's Chapalu returns to turf for the first time since breaking his maiden by 3 3/4 lengths in an Oct. 6 start at Keeneland. Trained by Arnaud Delacour, he started his 3-year-old campaign on dirt, setting the pace in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) before fading to last, 29 1/2 lengths behind the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) favorite, Sole Volante.
Aside from his maiden win at 2, the Flatter colt captured the Grey Stakes (G3) on a synthetic surface at Woodbine and was second on turf in his debut.
That's Amore Stable, Michael McMahon, and Bob Weeks' Mr. Kringle is already stakes-placed, finishing third in the Central Park Stakes on turf at Aqueduct Racetrack two starts back. A son of Shakin It Up trained by John Terranova II, he was sixth in the Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park in his most recent start, only 2 3/4 lengths behind winner Field Pass.
The lone stakes winner on turf is Stallionaire Enterprises' Doc Boy, who prevailed in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Kitten's Joy Stakes at Colonial Downs last year. Trained by Michael Stidham, the son of Into Mischief has not raced since finishing 12th in the Oct. 6 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.
In the second race Saturday, grade 2 winner Point of Honor will make her 4-year-old debut in a seven-furlong, $40,000 handicap for fillies and mares.
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Stetson Racing and trained by George Weaver, the daughter of Curlin was second in the Alabama Stakes (G1) and the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) last year.
She will take on six rivals while racing for the first time since the Aug. 17 Alabama.
Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday, March 07, 2020, Race 8Entries: Challenger S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Big Dollar Bill (KY)
Chris Landeros
118
Ian R. Wilkes
8/1
2
2Debbie's Passion (FL)
Scott Spieth
118
Luis Carvajal, Jr.
20/1
3
3Trophy Chaser (KY)
Paco Lopez
118
Juan Carlos Avila
9/2
4
4Prompt (KY)
Florent Geroux
120
William I. Mott
8/1
5
5King for a Day (KY)
John R. Velazquez
120
Todd A. Pletcher
2/1
6
6Sandino Ruler (ARG)
Joe Bravo
120
Ignacio Correas, IV
10/1
7
7Noble Drama (FL)
Javier Castellano
120
David Fawkes
3/1
8
8Admiralty Pier (KY)
Samy Camacho
120
Barbara J. Minshall
6/1
