The South African-bred Isivunguvungu didn’t quite take North America by storm last year, but he made enough of an impression that he bears watching in 2025, a campaign that begins in Saturday’s Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs.
The Turf Dash, at five furlongs, carries a purse of $125,000, of which $25,000 goes only to Florida-breds. Fourteen were entered, but only 12 are permitted to run. Super Chow is going to scratch from to run in Saturday’s Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes on dirt, according to trainer Jorge Delgado. His scratch would allow Honeyquist to draw into the Turf Dash field.
Isivunguvungu, which means storm in Zulu, was one of a handful of South African-based horses shipped last March to trainer Graham Motion. All had to do a two-month quarantine in Newburgh, N.Y., before they could train. Isivunguvungu made it to the races on Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs, where he narrowly won the Da Hoss Stakes by a neck.
In the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, Isivunguvungu chased the fast pace set by Cogburn, who went the opening quarter-mile in 21.59 seconds and a half-mile in 43.79. As a slew of closers came running, Starlust, the eventual winner, came out trying to avoid a drifting-out Cogburn and bumped Isivunguvungu, who was taken up by Manny Franco. Isivunguvungu finished seventh, beaten two lengths.
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Following a lengthy stewards’ inquiry, no action was taken. The stewards acknowledged there was contact but ruled it did not warrant a disqualification.
“Manny felt pretty strongly it cost him third or fourth,” Motion said.
Motorious and Howard Wolowitz, second and ninth, respectively, in the BC Turf Sprint, both came back to win stakes in their next starts. Howard Wolowitz was scheduled to run in Saturday’s 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia.
Motion said Isivunguvungu got sick after shipping back East following the Breeders’ Cup and had a month off. Isivunguvungu has just four breezes over the Palm Meadows turf course for his return, which Motion hopes he can use as a prep for the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on April 5.
“I think it’s a competitive enough race, there are a couple of pretty strong horses, but if he’s going to Dubai, he’s going to have to be competitive with these guys,” Motion said.
Samuel Marin, the leading rider at the Tampa meet, has the call.
Our Shot finished his 5-year-old season with a victory in the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland last Oct. 5, which ended a nine-race losing streak that included a trio of third-place finishes. Our Shot has six works at Tampa including a five-furlong move from the gate in 1:00.60 on Feb. 9, the fastest of 13 drills at the distance.
Souper Quest beat Our Shot in a Saratoga allowance last July before finishing behind him in the Harvey Pack and Woodford
The 9-year-old Smithwick’s Spice won last year’s Turf Dash, one of five wins from 14 starts in 2024.
Lightning City
After finishing a creditable second when attempting a mile in the Sunshine Millions Turf last month, Great Venezuela cuts back to five furlongs in Saturday’s Lighting City Stakes for fillies and mares. As a Florida-bred, Great Venezuela will be running for the winner’s share of the $125,000 purse, $25,000 of which is funded by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners Association.
Great Venezuela is 6 for 9 in her career, two of her three losses coming the only times she attempted two turns. Prior to the Sunshine Millions, Great Venezuela had won four straight sprint races, including an allowance going five furlongs on turf where she beat Epona’s Hope. That horse came back to win her next two starts including the Ladies’ Turf Sprint at Gulfstream on Feb. 8.
Trainer Victor Barboza said he was happy with the way Great Venezuela ran in the Sunshine Millions, “but I think she’s much better at five or five and a half furlongs.”
In a full field of 12, Barboza said he likes his filly’s post draw (9) at least compared to two of the main competitors, Sol Hope (2) and Beauty of the Sea (12).
Sol Hope finished third to the Epona’s Hope in a second-level allowance on Jan. 12. Sol Hope did get shuffled back around the far turn in that race and found some traffic in the stretch. Sol Hope, now trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., did win an allowance going five furlongs over Tampa’s turf in February when in the barn of Mary Lightener.
The Lightning City drew 14 but is limited to 12 starters.
Risk Threshold, trained by Chad Brown, is making her first start since she finished third in the Autumn Days at Aqueduct in November. She has yet to run as short as five furlongs and is drawn in post 11.
Beauty of the Sea, in post 12 wheels back two weeks after finishing seventh to Epona’s Hope in the Ladies’ Turf Sprint at Gulfstream for Joe Orseno.
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