Paros, Irish Aces Meet Again in Tampa Bay

There's no horse with better form than Paradise Farm's Paros  heading into the Feb. 1 $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T). The spunky Cairo Prince   gelding has captured his last five starts, each time stepping up in class.

Claimed by Paradise in July at Saratoga Race Course for $40,000, Paros appears to be hitting his best stride for his new connections. In his most recent outing, the Michael Maker trainee recorded his first black-type victory, rallying home a determined winner of the Prairie Bayou Stakes on a chilly night at Turfway Park Dec. 14.

In his start prior to the Prairie Bayou, Paros outbattled a stubborn Irish Aces  to the wire to win a third-level allowance contest on the turf at Keeneland. Although it could be argued Paros had the better trip of the two, Irish Aces fell short by three-quarters of a length under the wire. The two geldings rematch in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay.

Trained by Brendan Walsh for Pocket Aces Racing, Irish Aces, a closing fifth in this race a year ago, has been unraced since clashing with Paros in Kentucky.

Both horses will get new pilots as their last-out jockeys, Luis Saez and Tyler Gaffalione, will remain at Gulfstream Park to ride the prestigious Holly Bull Stakes (G3) day card. Antonio Gallardo has the call on Paros and Declan Cannon will ride Irish Aces.

The dynamic trainer/jockey combo of Chad Brown and Flavien Prat will attempt to thwart those two rivals with graded stakes winner Running Bee . A game runner-up in last year's Tampa Bay Stakes, the son of English Channel scored by a neck in his most recent effort in the Nov. 2 Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Consistent Ocean Club eyes second graded score in Endeavour Stakes

Scratched out of last weekend's Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) in search of calmer waters, Glen Hill Farm's Ocean Club  will be looking to make waves when she takes on nine rivals in the $175,000 Endeavour Stakes (G3T).

A consistent performer throughout her career, Ocean Club achieved graded success last fall with a gritty victory in the Noble Damsel Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct. Just as capable on the lead and she is sitting off it, the daughter of Curlin   should be a tough customer in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile affair for older fillies and mares. While Ocean Club didn't compete in the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf, she was flattered by Be Your Best 's winning performance, since she had just recently finished a close third to that rival in the Dec. 21 Suwannee River Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream.

Pablo Morales will ride Ocean Club for trainer Jack Sisterson.