Juvenile Catalina Red Sets Tampa Track Mark
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Two-year-old Catalina Red set a track record at Tampa Bay Downs Dec. 27 when he won the $65,000 Pasco Stakes by a neck over X Y Jet as the 3-5 favorite.
Ridden by Daniel Centeno, the Munnings colt ran down X Y Jet in the final furlong to complete the seven-furlong distance in 1:21.40. The clocking eclipsed the former mark of 1:22.03 established by Good Lord in the 2013 Super Stakes.
Trained by Chad Stewart for owner Anthony A. Lenci, Catalina Red paid $3.20 to win. X Y Jet, ridden by Antonio Gallardo was 6 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Charlie's Brother in the field of six.
The fast-developing chestnut colt was still a maiden when he won the Inaugural Stakes three weeks ago.
"(X Y Jet) was going fast up front and I had to use my horse a little sooner than I wanted," said Centeno. "We were really in stride getting into the stretch and I expected to get past easily, but he battled with us every step and it was only at the wire we edged clear.
"My horse had to be game to win today, and he can only get better."
France and Irwin J. Weiner bred the winner in Florida out of the Freud mare Lovely Dream.
"He showed a lot of heart today," said Stewart, who added he will huddle with Lenci before deciding on their next move with Catalina Red.
X Y Jet set swift quarter-mile fractions of :22.37, :44.54, and 1:08.81 for six furlongs.
In the $55,000 Gasparilla Stakes for 2-year-old fillies earlier on the card, Kentucky-bred Irish Jasper wore down pacesetter Huasca through the stretch to post a half-length victory in stakes record time of 1:22.41 for the seven furlongs.
Coco's Wildcat was a distant third, with the 3-2 favorite, A. P.'s Glory, fourth in the eight-horse field.
Ridden by Victor Lebron, Irish Jasper paid $16.80 as the fifth betting choice while bettering the former stakes mark of 1:23.78 set in 2006 by Kinsman Stable's Sweet Fervor.
"I was afraid of the favorite, but other than that I was pretty confident," said winning trainer Derek Ryan after Irish Jasper's third victory in four career starts. "She is a very honest filly and we were hoping to get some black type with her, so we're in business."
Ryan owns Irish Jasper in partnership under his Metro Thoroughbreds banner. He privately purchased the daughter of First Defence out of Irish Connection, by Mr. Greeley, after she did not meet her reserve at the June two-year-old sale in Ocala.
Ryan said Irish Jasper's next start could come in the $100,000 Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the Jan. 31 Festival Preview Day Presented by Lambholm South card.