Nova Rags Takes Pasco; Dead-Heat in Gasparilla
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Photo: SV Photography
Nova Rags wins the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
Leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Samy Camacho welcomed the chance to ride the Pasco Stakes favorite, 3-year-old Nova Rags, for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott Jan. 16 at the Florida oval. But when 16-1 shot Newyearsblockparty took the lead turning for home, Camacho realized translating opportunity to success was no easy bargain.
"I was a little worried at the three-eighths pole, because (Newyearsblockparty) was going between horses and I had to start working," Camacho said after posting a 2 3/4-length victory aboard the 13-10 favorite. "But I hit him once at the top of the stretch and he responded, and when he switched leads in the stretch it was 'Bye.'"
Nova Rags completed the seven-furlong distance of the $50,000 Pasco Stakes in 1:24.55. Newyearsblockparty continued on willingly under jockey Jose Ferrer, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Foreman.
The victory was the second from three lifetime starts for the Michael Shanley-bred and -owned Nova Rags, who showed signs he will enjoy going even further as he continues his development. The son of Union Rags came off a fourth in the Nashua Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack in November.
"It's what we were hoping for," said Mott's assistant, Mark Schreiber. "His last race was a little disappointing, but he was kind of shying from horses on the outside of him and he needed to mature a little.
"Samy rode him perfectly today and it looks like he will stretch out. All along, Bill saw a lot in this horse."
Bred in Kentucky out of the listed stakes-winning, grade 3-placed Smart Strike mare Wishful Splendor, Nova Rags improved his record to two wins from three starts, with earnings of $70,650. Wishful Splendor is also the dam of 2012 La Troienne Stakes (G2) winner Juanita (by Mineshaft ), along with black-type winner Sirroco Strike and black-type placed Isla. At 22, the mare has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Nyquist and produced a More Than Ready colt in 2020. She was bred to Honor Code for 2021.
Special Princess, Adios Trippi Dead-Heat
In the $75,000 Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Special Princess staged a whirlwind rally on the outside to forge a dead heat with pacesetter Adios Trippi.
Both Special Princess and Adios Trippi are Florida-breds, meaning both earned $32,500 through additional money provided by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. Special Princess, a Bahamian Squall filly bred and owned by J D Farms and trained by Walter Woodard, was ridden by Ademar Santos and became the first black-type winner for her sire.
Adios Trippi, a daughter of Adios Charlie owned in partnership by Paradise Farms Corp., Brian Hanley, Greg Boyer, Scott Estes, and Walder Racing, is trained by Peter Walder and was ridden by Antonio Gallardo.
The co-winners finished in a time of 1:24.89. Feeling Mischief, the betting favorite, flattened out through the stretch, finishing third.
Special Princess (outside) and Adios Trippi take the Gasparilla Stakes
The victory was the first career stakes triumph for Woodard and the first stakes triumph at Tampa Bay for Santos.
"This puts me on the map," Woodard exulted. "I told everyone before the race they were going to know (Special Princess) was there, and Ademar did a hell of a job. She's really come into herself and I was very confident coming into the race."
Santos was riding Special Princess for the first time, but noticed she had started slow in her two previous outs at the Oldsmar oval, and suggested to Woodard they work her from the starting gate a few days before the race to put more speed into her.
"She broke a lot better today and got the job done," Santos said. "I thought we beat (Adios Trippi), but it feels good because you don't have too many chances to ride this kind of horse. I told the pony rider to turn her loose in the post parade and she put her head down and got busy, and I knew she had her mind on business."
Special Princess is out of the Shaniko mare Indy Crown. She improved her record to 2-1-1 from seven starts, with earnings of $70,275.
Woodard and Santos also teamed to win the previous race on the card with the 3-year-old claiming filly Peaceful Way, also owned by J D Farms.
Walder, who engineered the private purchase of Adios Trippi after her impressive maiden score Oct. 5 at Parx Racing, was, like Woodard, just this side of over the moon after the result was posted.
"This is the happiest I've ever been for a dead-heat. I thought (Special Princess) nailed her, but my filly ran an awesome race because she took the beating up front (posting demanding fractions of :22.57 for the first quarter and :45.65 for the half)," Walder said.
"She just ran against a tough group at Gulfstream two weeks ago (finishing third in the Cash Run Stakes) and it was kind of a quick turnaround, but I liked the idea of wheeling her back from a mile to seven furlongs. She's getting better with each race," Walder said.
Bred by Laurin Stable out of the Trippi mare Stage Trip, Adios Trippi improved her record to two wins and a third from four starts, with earnings of $63,900.
Video: Pasco S. (BT)