We will keep things in Florida on Wednesday for an all-Florida day between Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. Tampa is home to the only stakes race Wednesday. They have two scheduled to run this afternoon with the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes and $100,000 Turf Dash Stakes. There’s a dirt and grass race, so a little bit for everyone at Tampa Bay Downs on Wednesday.
This track doesn’t typically get the most attention, but it’s the only spot you are going to find any stakes events today. The big race of the upcoming weekend can be found at Gulfstream Park with the running of the $300,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (Gr. 2), which includes points towards the Kentucky Derby.
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Tampa Bay Downs has nine races expected to be run on Wednesday, with a total of $330,300 in prize money available. You can find our Gulfstream Park picks at TheSportsGeek for Wednesday as well. Head below for our free Tampa Bay Downs picks for February 24, 2021.
Race 2
Post Time: 12:45 p.m. EST
Distance:1 Mile 40 Yards
Purse:$31,250
We will get going at Tampa Bay Downs with Race 2. Six horses are running, and I have Top Gun Tommy and Soup and Sandwich on the shortlist. Top Gun Tommy is a back-to-back winner and looking for a hat-trick on Wednesday.
He has finished 5th, 1st, 1st, in his career, with a win on November 19 and January 3. Top Gun Tommy defeated Another Duke by a half length in a $46,000 event, and then came back for another win on January 3 to beat Seazan by a half length in a $38,000 assignment. Those were both encouraging performances from Top Gun Tommy.
He would be a heavy favorite in this one if he didn’t have to concern himself with Soup and Sandwich likely gearing up for a big career. Soup and Sandwich made an impressive debut on January 28. He defeated Twice too Many by 7 ¼ lengths in a blowout for a win in a $40,000 race.
That was a wildly successful run from Soup and Sandwich, who has looked great in workouts as well. Soup and Sandwich completed 4 furlongs in 47.60, 50.20, and 48.95 seconds. If he stays in form, a win is going to be within reach.
Race 4
Post Time: 1:51 p.m. EST
Distance:5 ½ Furlongs
Purse:$13,450
Race 4 is a 5 ½ furlong event for $13,450 on the dirt. Eight horses are scheduled to run in this one. We should be watching Dontlosethatnumber and Purple Peopleeater to get the win in this event. Dontlosethatnumber has been well outside of the picture in the stretch in her career so far. She has finished 6th, 5th, 5th, 7th, 9th through five races.
However, this is going to be the easiest test of her career so far. Following that tough start, Dontlosethatnumber finished 9th most recently in a $14,350 event. She will continue to slide down in class on Wednesday. Expect her to get closer at 5 ½ furlongs in this contest. Her biggest threat has to be Purple Peopleeater from the No. 3 post position.
Purple Peopleeater is winless in seven outings in her career. She has been in the mix a few times before, though. In two of her previous three outings, Purple Peopleeater placed 2nd on December 20 and February 12. In her most recent showing, she placed 2nd behind Vice Grip by a neck in a $12,200 event. That form would likely be enough to get home in this outing on Wednesday.
Race 7 – Turf Dash Stakes
Post Time: 3:12 p.m. EST
Distance:5 Furlongs
Purse:$100,000
Race 7 is one of two stakes races in the US on Wednesday. The Turf Dash Stakes is a $100,000 stakes race on the turf. At least ten horses are scheduled to run in this race. We have one MTO horse, so My Boy Lenny may not race. If this race gets moved to the dirt, then we’ll see several scratches. Turned Aside and Imprimis are likely going to be involved in the stretch.
Turned Aside is a winner in 4 of 9 races in his career, including a Grade 3 win on July 24 in the $100,000 Quick Call Stakes. That was an impressive run for Turned Aside, who responded in 5th in the $250,000 Franklin-Simpson Stakes on September 16 at Kentucky Downs. Disappointing result, but that was a tough assignment.
He was able to respond on November 28 in the $100,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship Stakes. Turned Aside beat El Tormenta by 1 ¼ lengths in the event in impressive fashion. He will be tested from Imprimis is 9 for 17 in his career, with several big appearances in Grade 1 events. Imprimis has entered two Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Stakes events in his career. Imprimis is a stakes winner in two of his previous three outings.
He won the $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes (Gr. 3) on September 12 in an impressive display late in the stretch to win by a neck. In his most recent showing, Imprimis beat Extravagant Kid by a neck in the $75,000 Janus Stakes on New Year’s Day. He’s been quick with a speed rating over 100 in 10 of his previous 11 races with a registered reading. Imprimis made a nice workout on January 31 with a time of 47.47 seconds at 4 furlongs. I am siding with Imprimis to edge out Turned Aside.
