The Pasco Stakes – NG
TAM Race 7 7F – Dirt
Purse $125.000
Three Year Olds

Now here we have a group of ten three year olds that are going to be contesting this year’s Pasco Stakes here at Tampa Bay Downs and it is pretty much the first stakes race for here at Tampa for three year olds that have the Kentucky Derby on their mind. It looks like a pretty solid field so lets take a look at the field.

1. Table Rock (6-2-1-0 $141.000), trained by John Henry

This runner is coming into this race off of a seventh place finish in the Juvenile Stallion Stakes way back in October at Churchill Downs. He got beat by four lengths that day and never picked up the running at all for some reason. I think that may have just been a clunker and he needed a little break so I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran good.

2. Traveling Band (6-1-2-1 $62.880), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Now this horse right here is entering this race off of a win against maiden special weight company at Gulfstream Park which he won by a half length that day. It took him until his sixth start to win but his trainer obviously thinks highly of him because he has him triple crown nominated already. He may have a decent shot.

3. Made Out Of Glass (3-2-0-0 $57.870), trained by Mb Stables

Here is a lightly raced horse from Mb Stables that lost his first out but has since won his next time pretty nicely. He won a maiden special weight at Del Mar and then won a statebred optional claimer at Santa Anita last time. He is lightly raced but I think he has some talent for sure.

4. Brazen Deception (7-2-0-1 $54.200), trained by Nakamura Stables

Unlike the runner to his inside this horse has quite a few starts under his belt already and he has ran against some pretty tough horses in his career so far. In his seven starts four of them have been stakes races and two of them have been graded stakes races. He may like this seven furlong distance.

5. Workers Comp (3-1-1-0 $30.800), trained by Greeko Holdem

Here we have a lightly raced runner who has only made three starts in his career up to this point. He won his second start by a length in an Ontario bred maiden special weight at Woodbine in November. He tried stakes company last out here at Tampa but it did fair to well for him.

6. Pal O Mine (7-2-2-1 $100.560), trained by Barcelona Farms

A pretty seasoned runner right here up to this point and he has faced some graded stakes company before and he actually ran second here at Tampa last out in the Inaugural by a half length. He ran pretty good that day but will need to improve to win in this spot for sure.

7. La Grange (7-2-0-1 $87.760), trained by John Henry

Right here is a stakes winner last year who won a Florida bred stakes race before jumping into graded stakes company where he got whooped up on pretty good. I think this is back down to a class where he is more competitive but I’m not sure that he can win this race anyways unfortunately.

8. Bloody Battle (6-1-0-0 $15.610), trained by First Street Stables

Well this horse started off his career pretty badly but once he got gelded I think he focused on actually being a racehorse. He ran a good fourth three back and then broke his maiden two back but didn’t run so well last time but I think that might have been because of the mud. He will have to run the race of his life to win.

9. Angels Chance (4-1-0-2 $29.120), trained by Keikowin Racing

Now this horse here I have no idea how to give him a look because he only has one dirt start and that was the first start of his career. Every other start has been on the turf including his last start which was at the free track where he got beat. I just can’t give him much of a chance in here at all.

10. Ranger (3-1-2-0 $48.800), trained by Aer Stables

And now to the outside runner who is coming into this race off of a second place finish in the Display Stakes at Woodbine. He has shown a lot of talent so far in his short career and that work tab has some lightning works on it for sure. I think he has a legit chance to win this race.

Summary

Man is this a tough field to pick a winner from or what. I think I am going to go with the outside runner here and that is Ranger. He ran a good race last time and I just can look past that last work which was lightning fast for a three year old. Good luck to all in the race.

10-6-3-2

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded