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Selecting a favorite as hard as picking winner

By BERNIE DICKMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 29, 2001

If there were any certainties in Saturday's $50,000 Manatee Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, the 7-furlong race for fillies and mares provided some of the best betting opportunities of the season.

Before the race, picking the winner was a formidable task, but no more than trying to weed out the favorite. The Daily Racing Form's morning line had Minaret winner Shutrina Sand listed as the 5-2 choice, but the 5-year-old mare was 5-1 on the track program. The Racing Form's next four choices were Little Won at 7-2, Inside Affair at 5-1, Sweet Singing Sami at 8-1 and Silver Stockings at 12-1. The program had those four, in order, at 9-2, 4-1, 10-1 and 12-1. Another contender, Lady Cerise, was 8-1 in the program and 20-1 in the Form.

Ultimately, however, once the betting windows open, it's all in the hands of the public. And the bettors appeared to be as stumped as the pros. The fans made Little Won the lukewarm favorite at 5-2, followed by Inside Affair at 3-1, Lady Cerise at 9-2, Silver Stockings at 6-1 and Sweet Singing Sami at 7-1. Shutrina Sand was 10-1.

Felix Ortiz took Silver Stockings away the quickest and the daughter of Seattle Sleet, who romped in the Gasparilla and Suncoast in her two starts at the 2000 meeting here, never looked back. She opened up 5 lengths after half a mile, then coasted home, holding off fast-closing Inside Affair by a half-length. Little Won also made a strong late run for third, another 21/2 lengths behind.

Silver Stockings was clocked in 1:24:45, passing the quarter in 22:36 and the half in 45:42. The Florida-bred horse added $28,500 to her earnings, which jumped to $153,800 on a record of 6-1-1 in 10 starts. She paid $14.20.

Inside Affair, which also won races in two tries at last year's meeting, entered the race with the highest money winnings. She collected $12,000, increasing her total to $307,131 on a record of 12-4-3 in 25 starts.

PASSING THE TORCH?: Shutrina Sand faded to last in the Manatee field, her second straight disappointing effort for owner/breeder Chris Powell. But there was a bright spot for him two days earlier. In Thursday's first race, Powell and trainer Deborah Artz sent out a first-time starter named Jacob Message, a 4-year-old colt by Unzipped who was ridden by K.A. Austin. At odds of 13-1, Jacob Message shot to the front and led every step of the way, winning by nearly 3 lengths in 58:54 for 5 furlongs, paying $28.40.

With Shutrina Sand possibly headed toward the twilight of her career, Powell may look to Jacob Message to pick up the pieces and become the stable's breadwinner.

GULFSTREAM: Heavily favored Gold Mover romped to a 71/2-length victory in the Grade III, $113,000 Forward Gal Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in Hallandale Beach.

Long-shot Mazino, who set the early pace, was second and Thunder Bertie finished third in a field of five.

Gold Mover was ridden by Jerry Bailey.

The daughter of Gold Fever was bred and is owned by Edward P. Evans. She has won six of her eight starts and never finished out of the money, earning $392,102. Four of her victories have come in graded stakes.

Hazino, a 23-1 shot, broke on top from the one post with Gold Mover, who broke from the outside, a casual second. Thunder Bertie was third on the inside. Bailey did not move on the favorite until the far turn. Gold Mover cruised to the lead at the 5/16ths pole and was two in front at the 3/16ths.

Gold Mover increased her margin with every stride with Bailey barely moving his hands. It was a dominating performance over a good field. Platinum Tiara, who finished last, was second, beaten by only half a length, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

AQUEDUCT: Diversa wore down pacesetting Boundanddetermined in the final yards for a half-length victory in $81,125 Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in New York. Boundanddetermined finished second in the six-horse field, 7 lengths ahead of Montana Cat. The win was the second in five starts for Diversa, who carried 116 pounds with Joe Bravo and earned $48,675 for Bohemia Stable and December Hill Farm.

DERBY LANE: Thirty-two greyhounds competed Saturday in the first round of qualifying for the $85,000 Sprint Classic to be held Feb. 10. Upsets marked the day as Craigie Whistler scored his third win in four starts to beat favorite N Big Fred in Race 5. Race 6 featured the rematch of Inaugural winner D's Jasmine and Kennel Preview winner Dominator. Leta's Duke took the lead but had to settle for show as Jasmine crossed first in 30.80, the fastest Round 1 time. Dominator, the favorite, finished second. Dontcrosstheboss nosed out favorite BD's Phillip at the wire, earning 12 points for the win. N Big Ed set the season's fastest distance time to 37.41 on Wednesday before Round 1 competition. In the final heat of the night, the season's top dog, Courageous Nicky, was shut off at every move. Forbes Orswell held on to win the race by a head over Betcha By Design, with Courageous Nicky taking third. Although Nicky's win streak ended, he still carries a perfect-in-the-money record of 7-5-0-2-0. The field of 32 competes again Wednesday. The top 16 greyhounds advance to Round 3 Saturday. Semifinal heats are Feb. 7. ... The Robert Thorne Kennel moved into the top spot in the standings with 31 wins. The new kennel from Southland edged Marriott, which is in a three-way tie with Ryan Farms and Greymeadow at 30 wins. ... Bahama Mama champion, Flying Waterford returned to racing during Saturday's matinee, winning by 61/2 lengths after a three-month layoff. Waterford ran an unofficial season's best of 30.42 during his Jan. 16 schooling race.

-- Information from Times wires and correspondent Vera Filipelli was used in this report.

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