Parimutuels

Breeders' Cup ties reach back to back to Tampa Bay Derby

By DON JENSEN
Published October 29, 2005

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Downs vice president of marketing and publicity Margo Flynn will be witnessing a first today.

Two Tampa Bay Derby winners, Sun King (2005) and Limehouse (2004), are among the challengers in today's 22nd Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park.

"We've had horses race at our track and eventually go onto the Breeders' Cup," Flynn said. "But in the 10 years I've been here, I can't recall that we've ever had two Tampa Bay Derby champions race in the same Breeders' Cup.

"It is a testament to the quality of horses that run here. We're very pleased to see Sun King and Limehouse competing at this high level of competition."

Sun King is looking to cap a fine season in the $4-million Classic. Limehouse will make his final career start in the $1.5-million Mile. Both horses will go off at long odds. Sun King, which will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano, is 30-1 on the morning line. The early odds line on Limehouse are 20-1 with Jose Santos aboard.

The Tampa Bay Derby is one of three stakes wins this year for Sun King. The Nick Zito trainee captured the Leonard Richards Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby. He finished third in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile to Wilko. This will be the first test against older horses for the 3-year-old colt by Charismatic.

Limehouse, a six-time stakes winner, will make only his second career start on turf. The 4-year-old colt by Grand Slam will be retired to stud in Kentucky after the race. He is one of eight Breeders' Cup entries for trainer Todd Pletcher.

"Sun King and Limehouse both will be stepping up significantly in class against horses from all over the world," Flynn said. "But in horse racing, anything can happen."

Tampa Bay Downs opens at 9 this morning for simulcast wagering. Admission is free. The first of eight Breeders' Cup races, Juvenile Fillies, is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. Delaware Park kicks off a busy simulcast day with a 10:45 a.m. post time.

"We expect a huge crowd," Flynn said. "It is our biggest offseason day of the year."

OTHER OUTLETS: Breeders' Cup simulcast wagering also is available at Derby Lane (Plaza gates open at 10:30 a.m. and remaining gates at 11:30 a.m.) and Tampa Greyhound Track (gates open at 11:30 a.m.).

DERBY LANE: LaRosa Enterprises topped the kennel standings with 73 wins entering Friday night, eight more than C & C Kennel. ... Magic City became the first kennel to register five victories in one performance on Oct. 21. Lester Raines Kennel duplicated the feat two days later.

[Last modified October 29, 2005, 01:45:21]