Tampa Bay Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV - The Lambholm South Tampa Stakes comes our way this Saturday, February 1 from Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Florida. A purse of $150,000 will be on the line for horses four years old and upward willing to go 1 1/16 miles on Tampa Bay Downs's turf track.

A large field of 12 has been confirmed for the Tampa Bay Stakes - race 10 on Tampa Bay Downs's Saturday schedule. Post time is 4:55 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the past performances of all 12 entries for this Grade 3 stakes.

2014 Tampa Bay Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Nicklaus Way - made his graded stakes debut and finished fourth in the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows in June for trainer Ian Wilkes after 17 career starts yielded four wins, two seconds and a third place finish. He started last year with two straight Allowance Optional Claiming scores at Tampa Bay and went on to a second in the minor Challenger Stakes in March. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score over Super Chunky here January 8 after a third in a similar race at Churchill Downs in October. He looks for his first graded stakes score Saturday with Quincy Hamilton in the saddle from post 6.

Salto - had so-so career in Europe and in his North American debut finished fifth in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs in November 2011. In 2012 Salto raced to a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming in July and after an eight month layoff, had a good second as favorite in the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger ay Monmouth September 1, an Allowance score by nine lengths October 13, a fourth in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland October 27 and a third in the minor El Prado Stakes here December 22. He raced just three times in 2013 - a second last time out as 17-10 favorite in the minor El Prado Stakes with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure December 28, an Allowance score at Gulfstream in October and a fourth in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf in February. Salto has been on and off due to injury for trainer Todd Pletcher but has been competitive when on the track.

Tampa Bay Stakes 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Super Chunky - has two wins, three seconds and a third place finish in his last eight starts - the best results being a second in the Grade 2 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine in July and a second in the Presque Isle Mile Stakes in September. He is coming off a fourth after a DQ in an Allowance Optional Claiming here January 8 after a third in the minor Japan Racing Association Stakes at Laurel Park in November. Super Chunky has seven wins, 11 seconds and seven thirds in 41 career starts but has looked decent the last year or so. Erick Rodriguez rides from gate 2.

Riding the River - 2012's champion grass horse in Canada raced exclusively at Woodbine before a seventh last time out in the minor Japan Racing Association Stakes at Laurel Park November 9. He had six starts last year- a reasonable second in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes May 26 after eight months away and a repeat win in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes June. He also had a fourth in the very tough Woodbine Mile September 15 after an OK third in the Grade 3 Play the King Stakes August 25 and his worst effort in quite some time - an ugly seventh in the Grade 2 Nijinsky July 21. He has nine wins, three seconds and three third place finishes in 27 career starts. Riding the River has failed to place in three of his last four starts and will be looking to get back to his early 2013 form Saturday. Gary Boulanger gets the call.

Tampa Bay Stakes betting at Tampa Bay Downs with OffTrackBetting.com

Philly Ace - had just one start in 2013 - a fourth in the El Prado Stakes at Gulfstream December 28 after over a year away. Before the layoff he looked good for trainer Christophe Clement - a win in the Grade 3 Tropical Turf at Calder in November 2012, a third in the Grade 2 Red Smith at Aqueduct four weeks earlier to go along with three wins and a second in his previous five starts. Philly Ace has seven wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 15 career starts and has been competitive every time out. Angel Serpa will be in the saddle.

Seal Cove - has 11 career starts with six wins. The wins include the minor If Winter Comes Stakes, the Gleaming Stakes in 2012 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score last time out way back on July 24. He also had a pair of sevenths in a couple of graded stakes races - the Grade 3 Saranac September 2011 and the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park in October 2011. He had a fourth in the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston last January 26 in one of only three starts he has last year. Seal Cove is three for four at this distance and hopes rust won't be a factor Saturday.

Looking Cool - has 14 career starts with four wins and two second place finishes. His best ever result came in June - a win in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby but he has placed in just one of five starts since - that being an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Churchill Downs November 8. The poor results include sixths in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy in July, and in the Grade 3 Ack Ack in September and a ninth last time out in the minor El Prado Stakes at Gulfstream December 28.

Humble and Hungry - won the Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs in November 2011 and finished second in the Grade 2 Dixie in May 2012 but has an off year in 2013. He had six starts last year with an Allowance score and a third in an Allowance being his best results. Last time out was a fourth in an Allowance at Keeneland back in October.

Guys Reward - Dale Romans trainee was on the sidelines for most of 2013 before returning to a third in an Allowance November 9 and a tenth last time out in the minor El Prado Stakes at Gulfstream December 28. His career highlight came in July 2012 - a win in the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs but has placed in just one of six starts since - that third two starts back. He has 40 career starts with seven wins, five seconds and 10 third place finishes.

Golden Sabre - has just five career starts for trainer Malcolm Pierce with two wins. Last time out was an eighth in his graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs November 16 after an Allowance score in September, a fourth in the minor Charlie Barley Stakes in July and a MSW score in June.

Dannhauser - is coming off a good second in the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight Handicap at Calder December 29 after failing to place in his previous five starts - a stretch that included three straight sixth place finishes and a pair of ninths. His other win in 2013 came in July - in the minor Bert Allen Stakes at Colonial Downs.

Mellow Fellow - will make his graded stakes debut Saturday off a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track January 8 and a win in a similar race on this track December 4. He has 17 career starts with four wins, a second and a third place finish but will be looking for his first ever stakes score Saturday.

2014 Tampa Bay Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Tampa Bay Downs's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:55 PM.