The Gasparilla Stakes
$125.000 For Three Year Old Fillies
7 furlongs – Dirt
Tampa Bay Downs – January 10, 2026
With the late scratch of Risque Babe we were left with a field of eight three-year-old fillies beginning their season on a fast Sunshine State track and it was the Florida bred filly Noemi who hit the wire before her seven rivals. After beginning her career with four straight starts against FL bred peers she stepped out into open company and took down her first stakes win.
Winner: Noemi (Maxmillion Farm/W. Martinez) Bold Ruler/Lost Goddess (Dignified) She has shown speed in all of her starts and it was no different in the Gasparilla where she broke well and stalked in a group of three behind pacesetter Lady Jane Grey. She began her move going into the final turn and inched her way towards the leader. Once the two hooked up it was a true David vs Goliath encounter with Noemi and all of her 15.0 hands fighting a fierce giant in the 16.1 hands Lady Jane. After a gritty stretch battle, the tiny Noemi was able to gain an advantage and push her head in front right at the wire.
Second: Lady Jane Grey (Big Jd Racing/G. Maldonado) Fear Me Not/So Much To Say (Con Artist) Made her intentions clear the instant the gates opened and shot right to the lead opening up daylight on the rest of the fields, She easily led them the first five furlongs before being joined by Noemi at the top of the stretch. The two then engaged in a catfight to the wire where both deserved to win and Lady Jane begrudgingly yielded to the winner. In being narrowly defeated she ran the best race of her career to date.
Third: Diana (D J C Racing Stable/A.S. Worrie) Lea/Angel Drop (W W Durant) In my preview of this race I had speculated that Diana might have been brought to the gate to provide some pace for her more celebrated stablemate Patronize. It turned out they ran exactly opposite to that theorized strategy and it turned out well for Diana who was the one who sat back patiently and made a strong stretch run. She never seriously threatened the top two but did surge right at the wire to nip Party at the Shire for third.
Fourth: Party At The Shire (Nakamura Stables/A.A. Gallardo) Gandolf/Hard Pinnacle Party (Pinnacle West) Came into this race undefeated in three starts and she was my pick. She ran in a stalking trio up to the turn and was not able to keep pace with the winner when that one broke free from the pack. She ran steadily from that point and was barely caught for the third spot.
In making her open company debut Noemi came away with her first stakes win and also gave Maxmillion Farm their first win in the Gasparilla. It was the second win in a row in this race for jockey W. Martinez. This was the twenty second running of the race and the win brings Noemi’s earnings in her five-race career to $190.000.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded