Live Oak Homebreds Take Pair of Stakes at Tampa Bay

Live Oak Plantation's homebred half brothers March to the Arch and Global Access impressed March 31 at Tampa Bay Downs when the pair took a brace of stakes on the 17th annual Florida Cup Day card.

Kicking off the six $115,000 stakes for Florida-breds was 4-year-old March to the Arch, who rallied late under Tyler Gaffalione to take the Touch Vodka Turf Classic Stakes. 

Away last in the 1 1/8-mile test, March to the Arch was blocked in on the rail, tracking the pace in fourth until the field entered the far turn. 

Slowly gaining ground until he could be angled out for a clear run, March to the Arch shook free of his rivals at the top of the stretch and sailed home past the leader to win by 3 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:47.66. 

The victory was the first for the 4-year-old, Mark Casse-trained Arch gelding since last summer, when he took the Toronto Cup Stakes July 28 at Woodbine. 

Out of the Black Sam Bellamy mare Daveron, March to the Arch is an Arch half brother to Global Access (by Giant's Causeway), who followed his brother's lead three races later with a win of his own in the DRF Bets Sophomore Turf Stakes. 

Winless in three starts since breaking his maiden Oct. 31 at Woodbine for trainer Michael Trombetta, Global Access also turned in a daring stretch run in the Sophomore Turf, edging Swamp Rat by a head. The 3-year-old colt entered Sunday's race off a third in the March 9 Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay. 

Tracy Pinchin's homebred Kantharos  colt Jackson earned his second black-type victory in the seven-furlong Ocala Breeders' Sales Sophomore Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion. The 3-year-old also won the Juvenile Sprint Stakes Nov. 10 at Gulfstream Park West. 

Trained by Jose Pinchin, Jackson is out of the Put It Back mare Deposit Only and is a half brother to stakes-placed Catfight Cowgirl. 

Extravagant Kid claimed his first win since 2018, defeating five other horses, including grade 1 winner Firenze Fire. 

Making his first start of 2019, the 6-year-old Kiss the Kid gelding dueled gamely to the finish with Ray'swarrior in the six-furlong Zaxby's Sprint Stakes and scored by a head margin. 

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Extravagant Kid last visited the winner's circle when he won the Lucky Coin Stakes Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course. He followed that effort with a third in the Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G2T) Oct. 6 at Keeneland. 

Extravagant Kid was bred by Vicino Racing Stable out of the With Distinction mare Pretty Extravagant. 

In only her fifth career start, William Stiritz's Wildwood's Beauty took the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes for trainer Scott Becker. 

Out of the J P's Gusto mare Miss Propitious, the 3-year-old Kantharos filly broke her maiden on debut Nov. 10 at Gulfstream Park West and finished second in three subsequent starts in 2019 at Gulfstream Park. Bred by Philip and Karen Matthews, she was purchased by Stiritz for $47,000 from the consignment of Summerfield to the Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearling Sale. 

Rounding out the stakes for the day was Sabal Racing Stable's Crown and Sugar, who extended her win streak to five in the Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf Stakes. 

Settled in fourth for a stalking trip behind early leader Picara, Crown and Sugar found her opening three-wide on the far turn and seized her moment at the top of the stretch. The 4-year-old Crown of Thorns filly stormed past Picara and drew away to win by 2 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:41.32.

It was the first stakes win for the Darien Rodriguez-trained Crown and Sugar, who was bred in Florida by Woodford Thoroughbreds out of the Congrats  mare Sugarlick.