Lochte Shows His Class in Tampa Bay Thriller
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Lochte returned to his winning ways when fending off late-running Old Time Hockey and favored Sky Flight in a Tampa Bay Stakes (gr. IIIT) thriller on the turf Jan. 24 .
Crossed Sabres Farm's determined 5-year-old gelding by Medaglia d'Oro registered his first graded stakes win since taking the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. IT) in a 39-1 shocker nearly one year ago.
Paco Lopez, replacing the injured Orlando Bocachica, was aboard Lochte for the first time for trainer Marcus Vitali.
Making his debut at Tampa Bay Downs as the 4-1 second choice in the field of 12, Lochte ran the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:41.63 over a course rated good while defeating 24-1 shot Old Time Hockey by a head. Sky Flight, the 6-5 choice, finished a neck farther back in third.
Super Soldier, pushed along by Sky Flight and others, set the pace while Lochte was placed mid-pack on the outside. Fractions were :23.59, :47.34 and 1:11.47 before Sky Flight and Lochte advanced on the outside of Super Soldier entering the stretch.
Sky Flight, ridden by Julien Leparoux, took a narrow edge in the drive on the inside of Lochte, who closed relentlessly to get the advantage in deep stretch. Old Time Hockey, rallying from sixth on the outside for jockey Ronald Allen Jr. at midstretch, came flying late. But the wire came up just in time for Lochte, who prevailed gamely from between horses under urging from Lopez.
Coming off a fifth in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 10, Lochte improved his career line to 5-4-5 in 21 starts with earnings of $548,572. He is now 4-for-7 at the Tampa Bay's 1 1/16-mile trip.
Out of the stakes winner Lemon Kiss, by Lemon Drop Kid , Lochte was bred in Kentucky by Maura Gittens. From the family of 1991 Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair, he was a $475,000 yearling purchase by Anthony Stroud, who snagged him out of the Darby Dan Farm, agent, consignment at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale. He made his first five starts for Darley Stable before Crossed Sabres Farm acquired him.
Lochte paid $10.20, $5.20, and $3.60 across the board, topping a $184,60 exacta with the surprising Old Time Hockey, who returned $14.20 and $7.40. Lightly raced 4-year-old Sky Flight, whose three-race winning streak came to an end for trainer Mark Casse, paid $3 to show.
Rose Brier finished fourth, followed by Rerun, Margano, defending Tampa Bay Stakes winner Guys Reward, One Touch, Allie's Event, Super Soldier, Tricky Hat, and Hobo Ridge. Also-eligibles Dramedy and War Correspondent scratched.