Anyone who thinks Thoroughbred ownership is only for millionaires and corporate bigwigs should compare notes with trainer Michael Simone.
After the 6-year-old mare Red Wind finished third on Nov. 9 in a $12,500 claiming race at Laurel Park in Maryland, Simone enlisted owners AR Racing, LLC and William Quirk to purchase her for $3,000 to take advantage of the winter turf racing program at Tampa Bay Downs.
Since that bargain buy, Simone has saddled Red Wind for back-to-back Oldsmar victories eight days apart. Today’s triumph came in the eighth race, the opening leg of the Fillies and Mares Division of the Tampa Turf Test starter handicap series for horses which have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2024.
Leading jockey Samuel Marin rode Red Wind, who defeated Adaay In Asia by a neck while completing the 1-mile distance in 1:36.23. Mrs. Katz finished third in the 11-horse field.
The victory was No. 200 for Marin, who also won the third race aboard Zingales King. The victory was the 10th for Red Wind from 55 starts.
Before coming to Oldsmar, another of Simone’s owners, Sheldon Glass, purchased 5-year-old gelding Eddie the Great for $10,000 to compete at Tampa Bay Downs. Eddie the Great finished second in the ninth race, the Males Division of the Tampa Turf Test, at odds of 43-1, succumbing to a furious stretch rally by winner Late Call and jockey Samy Camacho.
Simone would have loved a sweep, but he’ll settle for a victory and a second. “The owners (of Red Wind) are real happy,” Simone said. “I was a little concerned because (Marin) had a big hold on her the whole time, but he’s the leading rider for a reason.”
“In my mind I wanted to go from the break, but I knew I had some cheap speed in front of me so I tried to sit behind it and wait,” Marin said. “The last quarter-mile, she kicked real good.”
That was nothing compared to the closing burst by Late Call, who hit the starting gate at the break, trailed down the backstretch and only had one horse beat at the top of the stretch. With Camacho urging, the 5-year-old gelding took flight, finishing a length-and-a-quarter ahead of Eddie the Great with Puttheblameonme third in the 12-horse field.
Late Call’s time was 1:35.50. Both winners were 4-1 shots.
“He hit the door of the gate and broke out (from the No. 3 post), and after that he almost ran up on the heels of the No. 2 and No. 4,” Camacho said of Late Call. “So I knew I had to be patient and keep him in the clear. When we got to the half-mile pole I pushed the button and asked him to grab the bit, and at the quarter-mile pole I knew it was over. I didn’t even pick my whip up.”
Late Call, who is owned by My Way Stable and trained by Derek Ryan, is now 5-for-19. “He’s a nice horse and he ran good,” Ryan said. “I just left it up to Samy, and he gave him a good ride.”
Around the oval. Owner-trainer Juan Arriagada sent out two winners today. He won the fifth race, a 6-furlong starter/optional claiming sprint, with Baltasar, a 6-year-old gelding ridden by Camacho. Arriagada added the seventh race, a mile-and-40-yard claiming event on the turf, with Conspiracy Fact, a 5-year-old gelding ridden by Sonny Leon.
Thoroughbred racing continues Sunday with an eight-race card beginning at 12:44 p.m. The feature event is the fifth race, a $54,000, 6-furlong allowance/optional claiming sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old-and-upward. Miuccia, a 3-year-old stakes winner who finished third in the Grade III Prioress Stakes on Aug, 31 at Saratoga, is the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the six-horse field. Owned by JR Ranch and trained by Gustavo Delgado, she will be ridden by Samy Camacho.
The horses then return to action on Wednesday, the first day of 2025. All Thoroughbreds celebrate their birthday on that date for record-keeping purposes. There are nine races scheduled.
Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.
