Parimutuels

Tampa Bay Downs sets records

Hostile Witness wins the Inaugural Stakes as opening-day attendance and handle marks fall.

By DON JENSEN
Published December 12, 2004

OLDSMAR - Full parking lots and plenty of people.

The start of Tampa Bay Downs' 79th season had something for everyone Saturday.

Several highlights:

Jockey Cecilio Penalba rode Hostile Witness to a 11/2-length victory in the $60,000 Inaugural Stakes for his first career victory at Tampa Bay Downs.

Ten jockeys won on the 11-race card, which included a dead heat in the fourth race.

The track exceeded opening-day figures from 2003-04 as 5,126 fans attended with an all-source handle of $3,158,999, surpassing 5,103 and $2,556,563, respectively.

"We're off to a very good beginning," track vice president and general manager Peter Berube said. "It's always a difficult time of year to start around Christmas. I'm very pleased to have a crowd of 5,000 people."

One of those, Charlene Erscey of Dunedin, was sitting in the grandstand with her husband, studying the program between races with her gloves on. "It is a little cool, but fun to be back," she said. "We were a little surprised at how large the crowd was."

Jockey Juan Umana started the day with a win aboard Magic Wizard that paid $29.80.

T.D. Houghton, second to Jesus Castanon in last season's jockey standings, rode a pair of winners along with Joseph Judice.

But the biggest victory came from Penalba, who rallied Hostile Witness to a $27,000 payday in the 19th running of the 6-furlong Inaugural.

Hostile Witness drew the No.13 post, but had the ninth position in the 10-horse field when four entries were scratched. The 2-year-old New York-bred colt by Successful Appeal and Diablo's Blend went five horses wide to overtake Sounds Impossible in a time of 1 minute, 12.2 seconds on a fast surface. Hostile Witness paid $12.80, $5.80 and $3.60. Sounds Impossible returned $6 and $3.60, and Captain Lindsay was third at $3.80. Get Wild, the 6-5 favorite, was fourth.

"The post position was good for him and my horse stayed close to the pace," Penalba said. "When I wanted him to move, he was ready to run."

Assistant trainer Julie Luhr said Hostile Witness was primed for a good effort: "I didn't mind the 13 (post) because I knew he wants to go a little farther. And if he had to circle around the outside, there'd be less traffic."

DERBY LANE: Festive Event rallied to win the 43rd annual All-Star Kennel Preview. Winner of 14 of 16 races, Festive Event overtook Bd's Imogene to win by 11/2 lengths. Festive Event covered the 5/16th mile in 30.83 and paid $3.20. Jr's Flashy finished third.

[Last modified December 12, 2004, 00:32:19]