Three Rules Heads Marion County Florida Sire Stakes

The annual Cotillion Festival Day Dec. 16 at Tampa Bay Downs features a pair of $125,000 3-year-old stakes sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.

The seven-furlong FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings will be a rematch between grade 3 winner Three Rules and stakes winner Mo Cash. The two met July 1 in the Carry Back Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, with the Jose Pinchin-trained Three Rules staging an impressive rally to edge Mo Cash by a neck.

The Marion County is the first race since the Carry Back for Three Rules, a five-time stakes winner owned by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds, Tom Fitzgerald, and Geoff Roy. The son of Gone Astray  also finished second last winter in the Swale Stakes (G2) and ran third in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), both at Gulfstream. He will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.

Mo Cash, trained by Ronald Spatz for Marco Thoroughbred Corp., has two career stakes victories, including the April 2 Florida Cup Ocala Breeders' Sales Sophomore at Tampa Bay Downs. Jockey Antonio Gallardo has the call in the Marion County.

One race earlier on the card, the FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes for 3-year-old fillies has attacted seven entrants and will also be contested at seven furlongs.

Heading the City of Ocala is R Angel Katelyn, who has recorded three of her five stakes victories at Tampa Bay Downs. Owned by Averill Racing, CCF Racing Stable, and K Lauren Racing and trained by Gerald Bennett, the High Cotton filly has sprinter's speed and has won at the distance. She will be ridden by Gallardo.

Her top challenger is the Kathleen O'Connell-trained Stormy Embrace, who finished third in last month's Millions Distaff Stakes at Gulfstream Park West. Wilmer Garcia is set to ride.

Also on the card are two $100,000 six-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds. Among the top contenders in the Inaugural Stakes is Wildcat's Legacy, a Florida-bred colt whose two-for-two record includes an easy victory in the Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 11. 

In the Sandpiper Stakes, Graham Motion sends out Kentucky-bred maiden winner Almond Roca to face eight foes. The field also includes Toni Ann's Miracle, the Larry Pilotti-trained filly riding a three-race win streak, and Valuable Package, a Skip Einhorn-trained Florida-bred who broke her maiden by 7 3/4 lengths before finishing third in the Matron Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park in October.

Entries: Sandpiper S.

Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday, December 16, 2017, Race 6

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 2:52 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1World Is My City (KY)	Daniel Centeno	116	Eoin G. Harty	12/1
2	2Toni Ann's Miracle (FL)	Emisael Jaramillo	116	Larry Pilotti	5/2
3	3La Femme Royale (KY)	Fernando De La Cruz	116	Randy L. Klopp	6/1
4	4Valuable Package (FL)	Wilmer A. Garcia	116	Skip Einhorn	9/2
5	5R True Talent (FL)	Antonio A. Gallardo	116	Gerald S. Bennett	10/1
6	6Trappe Me Later (VA)	Samy Camacho	116	Robert G. Smith	12/1
7	7Super Beautiful (KY)	Raul Mena	116	Paul Marino	20/1
8	8Malandrina (FL)	Orlando Bocachica	116	Darien Rodriguez	8/1
9	9Almond Roca (KY)	Pablo Morales	116	H. Graham Motion	3/1

Entries: Inaugural S.

Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday, December 16, 2017, Race 9

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 2 yo
• 4:22 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Gone Fishing (FL)	Emisael Jaramillo	116	Jose Pinchin	8/1
2	2Wildcat's Legacy (FL)	Antonio A. Gallardo	122	Ralph E. Nicks	3/1
3	3Salsa Lane (FL)	Raul Mena	116	Gerald S. Bennett	20/1
4	4His Name Is Sue (FL)	Wilmer A. Garcia	116	Kathleen O'Connell	8/1
5	5Twin Farms (KY)	Jesus Lopez Castanon	116	Ben Colebrook	4/1
6	6Arazi Like Move (KY)	Scott Spieth	116	Aldana Gonzalez	5/1
7	7Nickie's Papa (KY)	Ricardo Feliciano	116	Joan Scott	15/1
8	8Tricks to Doo (KY)	Daniel Centeno	116	Arnaud Delacour	5/2
9	9Charge Card (KY)	Fernando De La Cruz	116	Cheryl Winebaugh	20/1