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OLDSMAR - The $100,000 Grade III Hillsborough Stakes provided a photo finish and plenty of drama on Festival Day at Tampa Bay Downs.
Coney Kitty, a 6-year-old mare ridden by Jose Santos, captured the 11/8-mile turf race by a neck over Madeira Mist. Alternate was third.
Before the $60,000 share of the winner's purse was awarded, Santos had to withstand a stewards' inquiry and jockey's objection by friend Edgar Prado, who rode Madeira Mist.
At issue: Coney's Kitty advanced through traffic around a congested second turn then rallied inside the furlong marker down the center, coming out a bit under Santos' left-handed urging, which pushed out Madeira Mist and Alternate.
"I was concerned about it, but they have stewards that understand when a horse touches another from the rear end, it always wants to go sideways," said Santos, who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness on Funny Cide.
Santos and Prado, who notched his 5,000th career victory Saturday aboard Wynn Dot Comma in the Swale Stakes, drove to the track together after flying in from Gulfstream.
"Edgar's very professional like I am and he's got to do what he's got to do," Santos said. "He makes his living by winning races."
Coney Kitty, an Ireland-bred trained by James Toner, paid $7.80, $3.60 and $3.20. Favorite Madeira Mist returned $3.20 and $2.60, and Alternate paid $4.40.
It was the first graded stakes win for the daughter of Lycius and Auntie Maureen and sixth career win in 28 races.
OUTSTANDING NUMBERS: The third-largest Tampa Bay Derby crowd of 8,131 established a handle record of $5,353,782. A total of $628,200 in purse money was distributed in the 13 races.
BAFFERT'S TRIFECTA: Trainer Bob Baffert and owner Mike Pegram are back in the Kentucky Derby picture. The team who won the 1998 Derby with Real Quiet have another contender in Preachinatthebar, winner of the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes in Arcadia, Calif., by a nose over St Averil.
Baffert has three colts who are possible for Churchill Downs on May 1. Last weekend, Wimbledon won the Louisiana Derby, and Odds On finished sixth Sunday. Ridden by Javier Santiago, Preachinatthebar paid $19.20, $6.60 and $4.60. Favorite St Averil returned $3.20 and $2.80, and Harvard Avenue, another 41/2 lengths back, paid $5.20.