Horse Pick of the Day - Tampa By Downs

Horse Pick of the Day: Tampa Bay Downs – Race 9

Race-day: 2/17/2009

Race-time: 4:07 pm est.

By D.S. Williamson

Tampa Bay Downs resumes racing on Tuesday after running the Sam F. Davis Stakes over the weekend. The Sam F. Davis for three year olds didn’t produce a top flight colt for the Kentucky Derby.

Not like Old Fashioned who was sensational on Monday in the Southwest Stakes. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time to go over the favorites for the online sportsbook.

For now, let’s just concentrate on Tuesday’s pick of the day.

Tampa Bay Downs – Race 9

Claiming $50,000 n2L

For Four Year Olds and Up Which Have Never Won Two Races

1 mile on the turf

El Apache - - 5/1 morning line

This 6 year old gelding out of El Corredor is going to have to really hustle to get position from the 10 hole, but if he does, then he’s about as good as anything in here. No, he’s better. He broke his maiden on this turf course going 1 mile. That makes him the play by default. If he can just get position early, and then make a nice run without having to give up too much ground, he should be there in the end.

Fortissi More - - 8/1 morning line

He was terrible on the slop in his last where he finished 9th by 20 lengths. I’ll forgive him for that because in his race before, going 1 1/16th miles on the turf at Aqueduct, he was fantastic when pulling away for a six length victory. That was his maiden score. He could be rounding into a nice turf horse which means the 8 to 1 would be a gift in this field.

Red Cypress - - 3/1 morning line

If he doesn’t bounce off of his last race, a 3rd place finish at this level going 1 mile on this turf course, he could win this easily. Then again, he ran faster than he ever had before in his life in that race and still came up short. The short odds mean that I have to pass.

Wagering Strategy

El Apache looks like a solid wager if he holds his 5 to 1 odds. If he doesn’t, then Fortissi More becomes the play. No matter which horse gets the win and place bet, I’ll put all in an exacta and trifecta box.