Parimutuels

Grim start doesn't doom successful open

A jockey is hospitalized after a spill in the opener, but the rest of the day goes off without a hitch.

By DON JENSEN
Published December 11, 2005

OLDSMAR - An ominous opening and a fabulous finish.

The first day of Tampa Bay Downs' 80th season ran the gamut Saturday afternoon as thoroughbred racing returned to the area.

R Loyal Man came from well off the pace to win the $60,000 Inaugural Stakes under rider Rajiv Maragh. But the day got off to an eerie start when jockey Jose Lopez was injured in the first race as his mount, Lerma Time, fell after breaking his left front leg at the 1/4-mile pole.

Lopez, competing at Tampa Bay Downs for the first time, was taken off the track on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to the St. Joseph's Hospital trauma unit in Tampa. A hospital spokeswoman said Lopez had facial lacerations along with a broken clavicle and ulna. He was released Saturday night. Lerma Time was vanned off the track and later euthanized.

The attendance of 5,459 was a track opening-day record, and all-source handle of $3,734,140 for the 11-race card surpassed 2004 first-day numbers of $3,158,999.

"Opening day started out a little bit cloudy in the morning, but certainly opened up to be a spectacular day on track," said Margo Flynn, track vice president of marketing and publicity. "The fans came to appreciate some great horse racing to boot."

Maragh, who won his first two career races at Tampa Bay Downs in 2004, rallied R Loyal Man to an 81/2-length victory in the Inaugural. Owned by Alfred Kowaleski and trained by Timothy Ritvo, R Loyal Man overtook pacesetter Forestry Prince in midstretch to win his third race in six lifetime starts. The 2-year-old More Than Ready colt ran 6 furlongs in 1 minute, 11.81 seconds. He earned $27,000, raising his career earnings to $88,050.

R Loyal Man paid $8.40, $4.80 and $4.40. Forestry Prince returned $23.20 and $11.60. Neverbeendancin' paid $8.60 for third. Liquoreux, the 8-5 favorite ridden by 2004 Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mike Smith, finished sixth. Ritvo said R Loyal Man's next race could be the 7-furlong Pasco Stakes on Jan. 28.

Jockey Jose Lezcano had a big day with three winners (Chatham Parkway, first; Thunder Again, fifth; and Jewels N Gems, sixth). Kirk Ziadie trains Chatham Parkway and Jewels N Gems.

Like last year's opening day, there was a dead heat in the sixth as Ceviche and Davids Expectation reached the wire at the same time.

Recent rainfall made the turf course wet, forcing two of the three races to be moved onto the dirt track. The lone turf race produced the biggest payout as Milky Way Guy won, returning $46.40 for a $2 ticket.

The day began with Breakfast at the Downs hosted by announcer Richard Grunder. More than 100 fans came to watch horses work out and ask rider Tammi Piermarini and trainers Bobby Raymond, Tom Proctor, Michael Zwiesler and Bob Jeffries questions.

"Opening day is a big high," Raymond said. "You try to get your horse to run good the first day to make an impression on your owner so they can claim some more (horses) and help you through the business."

Racing continues today with an 11-race card. The final qualifying contest for the $500,000 National Thoroughbred Racing Association/Daily Racing Form Handicapping Contest Jan. 27-28 in Las Vegas also takes place.

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]