Tampa Bay Downs Rack Track Guide
Tampa Bay Downs race track guide includes track information, top riders, trainers, draw bias, and Tampa Bay Downs free picks. Get everything you need to know when betting on Tampa Bay Downs at Pickswise.
Mar 18, 2020; Tampa Bay, Florida, USA; General view of horse connections looking on as the Tampa Bay Downs is closed to the public at Tampa Bay Downs. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Where is Tampa Bay Downs?
Tampa, Florida, USA.
Tampa Bay Downs opened in 1926. The Downs is the only thoroughbred track on the west coast of Florida and charms racing fans with its distinctive, country fair style.
On February 21, 2014 it was the stage for what is believed to be a first in the sport when brothers Juan, Fernando, and Walter De La Cruz of Huancavelica, Peru, all rode winners on the same card.
Tampa Bay Downs is being used more by bigger trainers in the last few years, with the likes of Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown sending a number of runners to the venue.
Tampa Bay Downs Track Guide
The main track is a mile-round dirt oval, on which most races are run. It surrounds a 7f-round turf course, which has a two-furlong-long inner chute.
Tampa Bay Downs Top Riders
Samy Camacho, Antonio Gallardo, Daniel Centeno.
Samy Camacho is a talented, young rider whose upright style has brought him significant success at Tampa Bay Downs. He is the reigning champion rider at Tampa Bay thanks to 123 winners from 487 rides in 2018/2019, although he is just behind Antonio Gallardo this year in a protracted duel.
Gallardo, who won the 2017/2018 jockey’s title here and leads this year’s standings, is the most complete rider at the track and there aren’t many that can rival his strength in the saddle. With nearly 2,000 career winners to his name from just over 9,000 rides, Gallardo is a known quantity in the weighing room and has the pick of the majority of horses at the Florida track.
Daniel Centeno is the veteran rider at Tampa Bay Downs with over 15,000 rides to his name, and has been overshadowed by younger riders Camacho and Gallardo in recent seasons. However, he still has a good strike-rate and knows how to ride the track as well as anyone.
Tampa Bay Downs Top Trainers
Gerald Bennett, Chad Brown, Christophe Clement, Michael Stidham, Kathleen O’Connell
Gerald Bennett has been the top trainer at Tampa for the past three years and although he has far more runners than any other barn, he regularly strikes at over 20 percent. Bennett also regularly has the assistance of Samy Camacho, which is a big plus.
Chad Brown, Christophe Clement, and Michael Stidham have exceptional records with their limited number of Tampa Bay runners, while Kathleen O’Connell is always in the top three barns at the venue thanks to her partnership with Antonio Gallardo.
Tampa Bay Downs Draw Bias
Like all US tracks, being drawn closer to the rail is always a bonus. However, Tampa’s dirt track is nowhere near as sharp as others in the country, and therefore it isn’t as important as the likes of Gulfstream Park, Will Rogers Downs, and Los Alamitos.
Tampa Bay Downs Key Races
The Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby is a key trial on the Triple Crown trail. The Grade 2 Hillsborough Stakes and Grade 3 Florida Oaks are also headline races.
Tampa Bay Downs Picks
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