The Gasparilla Stakes ($150.000 Purse)
TAM- For Fillies Three Years Old
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
January 11, 2025

It’s time to start another year of coverage, and the first race on my 2025 schedule will be the 21st running of The Gasparilla Stakes down at TAM. This is a seven-furlong race for three-year-old fillies on the main track, and the $150.000 offered is a new high for the race, up $25.000 from where it had been previously. Last year’s race was won by Star Sapphire, for Fractious. She has not won since, but did turn in some productive results over the summer and remains active, running now in the silks of Pan Farms. Seven head to the gate this time around, so let’s take a look at who they are, now:

1- Smokin Cherie (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by R Feliciano)- So far, she does not have a lot to talk about in her past performances, having made only two starts. After debuting at PEN, she broke her maiden in late October in a simple race at FP. The improvement she has made since then is quite apparent in her works, so certainly she is on the verge of doing bigger things in her career. Maybe that will begin right here.

2- Chantilly Road (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by W Martinez)- Also coming off her maiden win, but for Chantilly Road, that came in her fifth start and while running at TUP. With the exception of a race at SA, she looked good in all of her starts and just came up a little short. This is a good test for her, as most of her competition in here has a similar race heading into the race.

3- Shericka (Winning Link Stables, ridden by D E Centeno)- While most of the horses on this end of the starting gate do not have the stake experience, that is not true for Shericka, as she has regular been running in this type of race. Not only, though, has she been in them, but she has a victory in one, the $200.000 Myrtlewood at KEE in late October. Overall, that is one of her three wins in five starts, and she should be one of the ones to beat in here.

4- Backdoor Into Paris (First Flight Stable, ridden by J C Ferrer)- Takes a similar path into the Gasparilla that we saw with Smokin Cherie. Made her debut at a free track and then followed that up with a maiden win in her second start. For Backdoor In Paris, that came for a bigger purse and was right here at TAM in late November. Coming to familiar territory may be good for her, as she also gets a chance to show what she can do against tougher company.

5- Shared Decision (Mb Stables, ridden by Sa Camacho)- After a few cracks at trying to break her maiden at high level tracks, she finally got the job done last time out at DMR, overpowering a small field by four lengths. She has always worked well, but eventually you have to start getting the job done while you are in this barn and that was accomplished two months ago. Now, after a little rest, we will see if she can make the next step.

6- Call Me A Lady (Winplace, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Prior to being claimed for $7.500 down at RUI, Call Me A Lady’s previous connections took a very conservative approach. Winplace had bigger plans, and ran her in the $75.000 McKee Memorial Stakes, for WV-breds, fresh off the claim. She was second at the bullring of CT there, then in a longer race, she won the $75.000 Casey Memorial Stakes. Last month, she was second against open company in an optional claimer but will once again get her chance in a stake, and I expect her to run well.

7- Merlene Ottey (Night Rider Stables, ridden by P Morales)- Won on debut at LAD in May, then had over five months off as the trainer took a bigger look at her behind the scenes. He liked what he saw over that time and elevated her directly into ungraded stakes. Initially, that did not go well, but the Night Rider stuck with her and was rewarded for that with an impressive effort at the $500.000 Fifth Avenue, for NY-Breds, running second at 85/1. She’s always been a massive longshot in her races, but here, I would hope, she is one of the favorites. If she is not, put virtual money on her.

Prediction: 3-7-1-6

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded