Damon’s Mound appreciated a drop in class and benefitted from a better break than he had in his last race to win Sunday’s $110,000 NYRA Bets Sprint by a half-length at Tampa Bay Downs, a victory that put him over the $1 million mark in earnings.
Damon’s Mound, under Junior Alvarado, broke alertly, but got involved in a pace duel outside of Chrome Ghost and those two battled from start to finish - they went a quarter in 22.29 seconds and a half-mile in 44.86. Chrome Ghost, ridden by Romero Maragh, had a short lead at the eighth pole, but Damon’s Mound persevered past in deep stretch. Chrome Ghost finished second in this race for the second consecutive year, finishing 1 1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Flood Zone.
Damon’s Mound, a 6-year-old son of Girvin owned by Cliff and Michele Love and trained by Bill Mott, won for the eighth time in 20 starts. The NYRA Bets Sprint was his seventh stakes victory and the $70,000 he earned pushed his career earnings to $1,018,405.
Damon’s Mound entered the NYRA Bets Sprint off a runner-up finish in the Gulfstream Park Sprint Handicap, a race in which he broke poorly and didn’t switch leads in the stretch.
In an interview broadcast on America’s Day at the Races, Alvarado said Damon’s Mound “gave me a chance, when we turned for home, before I really asked him for his best, he switched to his right lead which we didn’t do last time and he got a little extra gear. He fought very hard for me at the end.”
Damon’s Mound covered the six furlongs in 1:08.88 - just 0.21 off the track record - and returned $3.20.
The NYRA Bets Sprint was one of six stakes restricted to Florida-breds held at Tampa on Sunday.
In other stakes:
*** Uncle’s Gold, racing wide throughout under John Velazquez, overtook the pacesetting Tank and outfinished Adios Charlie to win the $110,000 Turf Classic by a neck. It was another neck back to Tank in third.
It was the third consecutive year that trainer Michael Trombetta and owner Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation won this race. They won it last year with Crystal Quest, a full brother to Uncle’s Gold.
Uncle’s Gold, like Crystal Quest, is by Uncle Mo out of the mare Giant Crystal.
Uncle’s Gold covered the 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:49.70 and returned $5.60 as the second choice.
*** Live Oak struck again in the $110,000 Distaff Turf as pacepressing favorite Souper Zonda ($5) persevered past pacesetting longshot Lets Go Koko to win by a half-length. It was another length to Rugelach in third.
Souper Zonda, trained by Mark Casse, had defeated Florida-breds in the $75,000 Sunshine Filly and Millions Turf two starts back by a half-length over Rugelach. Souper Zonda then tried open company before finishing last in the Grade 3 Honey Fox.
Irad Oritz Jr. rode Souper Zonda, who covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.94.
*** Maykomotion ($3.60) jumped to the lead out of the gate under John Velazquez and ran away from fellow 4-5 shot Rockies Balboa to win the $110,000 Sophomore Stakes by two lengths. Rockies Balboa finished second by 4 3/4 lengths over Best Minet Yet.
It was the second straight win for Maykomotion, a 3-year-old son of Vekoma owned by Bona Venture Stables and Bianco Thoroughbreds and trained by George Weaver.
Maykomotion, favored by $772 over Rockies Balboa, covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.88.
*** Heavily favored Tessellate ($2.60), confidently handled by Ortiz, rallied three wide turning for home and easily ran by the pacesetters to win the $110,000 Sophomore Fillies Sprint by 4 3/4 lengths over Las Chismosa.
Tessellate, a daughter of McKinzie owned by a large partnership led by Magic Cap Stables and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., won her third stakes. She won the Gasparilla Stakes two starts back in January.
Tessellate covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.09.
*** Mr Mo’s Magic, a 13-1 shot, made an early move down the backstretch to go from eighth to second then continued his run past the pacesetting Megacles to upset the $110,000 Sophomore Turf by 1 3/4 lengths over Serac. It was a half-length back to My Favorite Bird.
The Town, the even-money favorite, finished sixth in the nine-horse field.
Mr Mo’s Magic, a son of Uncle Chuck, won for the third time from four starts over the Tampa turf this winter. His lone defeat was a last-place finish in the open-company Columbia Stakes on March 7.
Mr Mo’s Magic, owned by Ray Huelsman and Keith Anderson and trained by Lynn Rarick, covered the 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:43.20 and returned $28.20.
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