Free Picks For Tampa Bay Downs - 5/1/20

Tampa Bay Downs by Daniel Benjamin

Race 3 Claiming $25,000

This one-mile and one-sixteenth mile race is slated to include 10 horses with the #11 Maspero also being eligible. #8 Drillomatic has run very well and has been extremely consistent in each of his last four outings, finishing in the money in each of those contests. Drillomatic starts once again on the outside where he seems to be extremely comfortable as he has done a very good job closing. Even in the last start (March 28), the four-year-old gelding was able to move up a spot though he still finished four-and-one-half lengths behind second-place #7 Taos, who should be a contender in this race as well. Taos, the morning line favorite at 9/5, tied the best effort of his young career in that race as he grabbed the lead at the ¼ pole and led for much of the event but eventually succumbed to Mighty Ghost down the stretch. Expect jockey Sammy Camacho to have the four-year bay gelding set the pace. #3 Lion Charmer will look to put his last outing behind him where he finished a disappointing eighth after taking position behind the leaders and getting checked out of tight quarters. He registered his worst ESpeed (68) of his career in that outing so I expect that he will bounce back as the four-year-old colt is extremely experienced at this distance. I also like the #2 Speakerit in an exotic bet as he should go off with double-figure odds. Speakerit had recorded a top 2 finish in each of the two races prior to his seventh-place finish on April 10th, though the three-year-old colt posted a personal best 81 ESpeed in that outing.

Picks: I will $2 on the #8 to win if he goes off at least 2-to-1 and put $2 on the #2 to show. I also like a #8, #7, #3, #2 in an exacta box.

Race 4: $15,000 Waiver Claiming

This eight-horse field that consists of fillies and mares is set up to be a highly competitive seven-furlong affair. #6 Charging Renee has been pretty consistent throughout her five-race career and has shown the propensity to set the pace. If four-year-old can get out of the gate clean and jockey Angel Suarez is able to direct her to the front of the pack early, there is a chance that she could coast to victory. .Look for #3 Diamond News to also be one of the first out of the gate and if the gray filly is able to do so then she should be a contender for the entire race. Diamond News, who is on a seven-race streak of being in the money, was strong in her last outing but wasn’t able to catch the eventual winner and then barely held onto second place. This is a great spot for #2 Countess Jessica to get back into the money after emptying out in each of her last two outings. The three-year-old will have Antonio Gallardo in the saddle for the first time this go around. Keep an eye out for #7 Channeled’s Angel who broke her maiden status in her first career start as she took control of the race after gaining the lead halfway through the affair.

Picks: $2 exacta box on the #6, #3. For a value bet I am going to put $2 on #7 t show. I also may use the #7 in a trifecta or superfecta bet along with the #6, #3, and #2.

Race 8: $20,000 Allowance

This one-mile turf race is expected to have a 10-horse field with the possibility of that number increasing to 14 with the inclusion of a few also eligibles. I thoroughly expect #8 Connectivity to bounce back from her worst performance of her young career as she finished eighth back on March 8th at the Fair Grounds. The eighth-place finish marked just the third time in nine races that the four-year-old filly did not get a “piece of the pie”. Connectivity is tied with #4 Stormy D for the most wins on turf among the horses in the field and has two victories in one-mile races. Speaking of Stormy D, I expect that the Charcoal filly to extend her run of reaching the money to six straight races. Stormy D, who has won three of her 11 starts on the carpet, has been extremely consistent in her previous five performances posting Espeeds of at least 80 in each of those outings..#5 Marnie Girl is another horse that could reach the winner’s circle. Marnie Girl has only missed the top 3 once in six career starts and she is 1-for-3 on the turf in terms of coming out on top of the field. #1 Agi’s Gait is someone that you may want to consider for exotic bets.

Picks: I am going with the exacta box #8, #4. As well as keying the #8 with the #4, #5 in a trifecta bet.