BY BROCK SHERIDAN<\/p>\n
Before Tampa Bay Downs began their historic 100th season of Thoroughbred racing in November, track officials announced substantial earning opportunities for eligible Florida-breds. Their condition books for this season include as much as $23,000 in incentives for Florida-breds added to allowance, allowance optional claiming and maiden special weight races. Most of this year\u2019s stakes are also boosted by money from the Florida-bred Incentives Fund and Florida Owners Awards.<\/p>\n
The enhanced Florida-bred program<\/a> is made possible through the state\u2019s 2025 budget, which allocated a $1.5 million to Tampa Bay Downs.\u00a0<\/p>\n Owners and trainers of Florida-breds have taken notice\u2014especially on Saturday\u2019s card when runners bred in the Sunshine State won seven of nine races, none of which were restricted to Florida-breds.<\/p>\n Paula S. Capestro\u2019s La Chismosa<\/a> started the big day for Florida-breds, winning the first race<\/a> by two-and-quarter lengths. Trained by Renaldo Richards<\/a> and ridden to victory by Samy Camacho<\/a>, the 3-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud\u2019s Win Win Win<\/a> bested five other fillies and mares in the $25,000 optional claiming starter allowance that featured a $36,500 purse.<\/p>\n Bred in Florida by the late Brereton C. Jones, La Chismosa earned $22,500. She is out of the Kitten\u2019s Joy mare Silent Joy and paid $4.60 to win. La Chismosa ran six furlongs in 1:10.86 and it was the third win in four starts at Tampa Bay Downs this year for bay filly.<\/p>\n Race 2 went to Florida-bred Fields of Green<\/a>, a 5-year-old mare by Ocala Stud\u2019s Adios Charlie<\/a> out of Redbud Road<\/a>, by Awesome of Course<\/a>. Owned by Lima Horse Racing and trained by Martin Escobar, Fields of Green won an $8,000 claiming race<\/a> with a purse of $24,000 by a length-and-a-half with Gabriel Maldonado<\/a> up.<\/p>\n Fields of Green has now won two of five starts at Tampa Bay Downs this year. She was bred by Jacks or Better Farm and paid $8.40 to win and the Florida-bred $1 Daily Double paid $15.50.<\/p>\n The third race, a $16,000 claiming for fillies and mares<\/a>, non-winners of two races, was dominated by Princess Vera<\/a>, who won by four-and-a-half lengths. Jockey Samy Camacho took his second race of the day aboard the daughter of Gunnevera, who stands in Florida at Pleasant Acres Stallions<\/a>. She is out of Charity Ball, by Indian Charlie and was bred by Tom McCrocklin and Bloom Racing.<\/p>\n Trained by Darien Rodriguez<\/a>, Princess Vera earned $14,585 for owner Six Pack Summer Stables and paid $6.80 to win. The all-Florida-bred $.50 Pick 3 paid $16.60. The $1 Daily Double with Fields of Green and Princess Vera paid $15.50.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Red Storm Stable and Fugget About It Racing Stables\u2019 La Dinamita<\/a> made it four consecutive for Florida breeders with a four-and-three-quarters lengths tally in a $16,000 maiden claiming for fillies and mares<\/a>. Ridden to victory by Daniel Centeno<\/a> for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr<\/a>., La Dinamita earned the $14,050 winner\u2019s share of the $22,750 purse.<\/p>\n By The Big Beast out of Infiltrada, by All American (Aus), La Dinamita was bred in Florida by Four Horsemen Racing Stable. She covered seven furlongs in 1:25.32 and paid $3.20 to win. The all Florida-bred Pick 3 paid $13.00 on a 50-cent bet and the $1 Daily Double with Princess Vera and La Dinamita returned $6.10.<\/p>\n The sixth race, a $6,250 claiming for 4-year-olds and older<\/a> going seven furlongs and a purse of $22,250, went to Saybrook<\/a>, who won by a length-and-three-quarters with Samuel Marin<\/a> riding. Darien Rodriguez saddled his second Florida-bred winner as Saybrook got the $14,050 winner\u2019s check for owner Sabal Racing Stable in winning his second straight at Tampa Bay Downs.<\/p>\n Bred in Florida by Robert C. Roffey Jr. Saybrook is by Jess\u2019s Dream out of Sherrie Belle<\/a>, by Outflanker. Saybrook paid $3 to win.<\/p>\n Expecting a Winner<\/a> was a two-length winner of Race 7, a $16,000 claiming for older fillies and mares going a mile on the turf<\/a>. Trained by William Downing<\/a> and ridden by Jose Ferrer<\/a>, Expecting a Winner earned $18,410 from the $28,700 total purse and paid $6 to win.<\/p>\n The 4-year-old mare is by Neolithic, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions<\/a>, and is out of Expect An Entry<\/a>, by Point of Entry. She was bred in Florida by Patricia Generazio and is owned by Frederick R. Stancato.\u00a0<\/p>\n Florida-bred Chequera<\/a> won Race 8, a $10,000 maiden claiming for 4-year-olds and older<\/a> at seven furlongs with a purse of $19,550. Marcos Meneses<\/a> rode Chequera to a two-and-a-half length score for owner RG Thoroughbreds, who earned $11,595.<\/p>\n Trained by Robert Drake<\/a>, Chequera is by Curlin\u2019s Honor<\/a> out of the Any Given Saturday mare Go Danica<\/a> and was bred in Florida by Deluca and Sons Stables.\u00a0<\/p>\n Chequera paid $14.40 to win and the Florida-bred Daily Double with Expecting A Winner and Chequera returned $41.50 on a $1 ticket.<\/p>\n