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By BERNIE DICKMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 2, 2001
Lisa Misiewicz was one of the top jockeys at Tampa Bay Downs in the 1980s. Fans remember her as a fearless competitor who rarely let her male counterparts get the upper hand.
When she married another of Tampa's best riders, Bill Henry, her riding career ended. But Lisa Henry recently took out her trainer's license. The first four horses she saddled at the Tampa meeting finished off the board. Her big breakthrough came in Friday's seventh race when Greenbrier finished in a dead heat for first place with Doug the Slug.
Greenbrier is a 5-year-old by Gulch owned by Stella Thayer, who owns Tampa Bay Downs. Greenbrier had been away from racing for 11/2 years until Henry saddled him for his return March 18. He finished fourth, beaten by 11/2 lengths, and was closing well at the finish. Friday was Greenbrier's second start in his comeback, and he was bet down to even money. At the wire, they couldn't separate him from Doug the Slug, an 8-1 shot, after 1 1/16 miles in 1:47:52. The pair finished 21/4 lengths ahead of Never Dark.
And who rode Lisa Henry's first winner? Husband Bill.
HIGH PERCENTAGE: Another ex-jockey turned trainer, Hall of Famer Jacinto Vasquez, hasn't saddled nearly as many runners as the other trainers at the meeting that began in mid-December. But the Ocala resident has made the most of his opportunities. When Sandy Lass won Saturday's ninth race under Eric Aguirre, Vasquez's record went to 5-1-1 in nine starts. Sandy Lass, a 3-year-old filly by Line In the Sand, is owned by Dan Dullea, who also owns the 9-year-old gelding No Spend No Glow, 3-for-3 at the meeting in the care of Vasquez. This was the first Tampa start for Sandy Lass, who shipped in from Gulfstream after winning one of three tries. She is 4-2-1 in 11 starts lifetime.
FIRST FRESHMAN WINNER: No 2-year-old races have been carded at Tampa, but several have been at Hialeah. One handicapping tool many players like to use with 2-year-olds is honing in early on the freshman sires who get off to a fast start. (A freshman sire is one whose first crop is running this year.) The first Florida freshman to get a winner is Dr. Caton, who stands at Don Dizney's Double Diamond Farm. Dizney has owned several sports franchises in Orlando, including the Orlando Renegades of the defunct USFL.
Dr. Clayton, a colt bred by Beverley and Jerry Brown, scored the milestone victory for Dr. Caton, getting 3 furlongs in a solid :33:33 under Eduardo Nunez. The colt scored by half a length and paid $23.
The third-place finisher was Five C Notes, a colt by Devongate, another freshman sire who formerly stood at Devonia Stud in Ocala. Devongate, whose career at stud was short-lived -- he is now a gelding -- was brought back to the races briefly last year but did not win in two starts.
AQUEDUCT: Toddler, ridden by John Valazquez, wore down John Paul Too in the final strides to capture the $82,625 Kings Point Stakes by a neck at Aqueduct. The win was the seventh for Toddler in 17 career starts.
HIALEAH: Favored American Century, the only Triple Crown nominee in the field, closed fast to score a decisive victory in the $50,000 Bahamas Stakes for 3-year-olds. Rich Coins, the second choice, rallied to finish second in a field of seven. Illusioned was third. American Century is a Kentucky-bred son of Pioneering owned by Peachtree Stable. The stable has no designs on the Kentucky Derby at this point.
SANTA ANITA: Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Kona Gold beat Hollycombe and Explicit by a neck to win the $200,900 Portrero Grande Handicap. Hollycombe, ridden by Chris McCarron, and Explicit, with David Flores, finished in a dead heat for second.
DERBY LANE: Reward Green took top points from Boot Scootin Gal, who had her favorite one box, in Race 6 and Courageous Nicky won by 8 lengths, upsetting Flying Waterford and Greys Free Bird, in the 10th race Saturday night. The track was very slow for Round 3 of the 42nd annual $100,000 Distance Classic. Wednesday's average time over the three-eighths mile was 37.66. Saturday's times slowed to 38.28. Nicky's win moved him into the season lead, ahead of Oneco Sudsy. BD's Robin leads the Distance Classic eliminations with 30 points, followed by Courageous Nicky (28) and Greys Free Bird (22). The 16 remaining greyhounds compete in the semifinals Wednesday. The eight high point totals move into the final Saturday. ... Rouge Trader had back-to-back outstanding performances from the outside last week as he closed from far back to beat BD's Phillip and halt Betcha By Design's winning streak. ... System Shug Alow won his first heat in Iowa as he prepares for the Iowa Countdown Stakes on April 14. Shug Alow has competed at Jacksonville, Orange Park, Tampa and Derby Lane. He was a finalist this year in the All-Star Kennel Preview, Matinee Idol and Blarney Blitz Hot Box feature with 14 of 17 in the money, including six wins. ... Diane Beckner, wife of Ron Beckner of Lee, died last week. The Beckner kennel has competed at Derby Lane for more than 25 years.
- Information from correspondent Vera Filipelli and Times wires was used in this report.