Trainer Brian Lynch has leading 2-year-old prospect Owen Almighty back on the work tab in Florida after the colt got a freshening following his second-place finish to Jonathan’s Way in the Iroquois Stakes in September at Churchill Downs. But in the meantime, Lynch and the Boersma family’s Flying Dutchmen Racing and Breeding start another exciting 2-year-old, Donut God, in the $125,000 Inaugural Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.
Donut God, a $400,000 2-year-old sales purchase by Into Mischief, the first foal out of the sprint stakes-placed Carpe Diem mare Sweet Kisses, made a winning debut Nov. 14 at Churchill, and not in a run-of-the-mill manner. Blasting to the lead under Luis Saez, Donut God set a strong pace and never wavered racing five furlongs on a sloppy track, leading by 2 1/2 lengths at the stretch call and holding firm to post a 2 1/4-length score over the solidly talented Steve Asmussen-trained colt El Prestigio.
“He’s not the biggest horse, but he’s a lot of horse, and he’s all racehorse,” Lynch said. “He’s a handful of a horse to be around.”
Donut God is one of eight entrants in the six-furlong Inaugural, co-featured Saturday at Tampa with its sister race, the $125,000 Sandpiper over six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies. Both races came up stronger than recent renewals, though Donut God, despite his lack of experience, figures solidly favored. He will be ridden by Samy Camacho, who had a productive Churchill meeting while riding mainly for trainer David Jacobson and has started the Tampa meet hot, riding 14 winners from his first 41 mounts.
:: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!
While Donut God’s 81 Beyer Speed Figure tops this field, Naughty Rascal brings the strongest résumé. Trained by Tampa-based Gerald Bennett, Naughty Rascal has won three of his four starts while showing the versatility to post a winning debut over five furlongs on dirt while in his last start capturing the Armed Forces, a two-turn turf mile.
In his lone try at six furlongs, Naughty Rascal posted a game neck win over Classic of Course, who this past Saturday finished second with an 83 Beyer behind Florida-bred sensation Rated by Merit. Naughty Rascal brings positional pace that should land him a favorable stalking trip and has shown a willingness to dig deep during homestretch battles.
Tapirs Valor makes his first start since being purchased by Runnymoore Racing and turned over to trainer Timothy Hamm following a second-start Keeneland sprint victory in a restricted maiden race. Tapirs Valor showed good speed going wire to wire over a surface that did not promote front-runners on Oct. 18.
Lynch, meanwhile, says he has the Swale Stakes on Feb. 1 at Gulfstream in mind for Donut God.
“This wouldn’t be my go-to move wheeling him back this quick, but this is an ideal spot to see if he takes the next step up. We just need to get a bit of seasoning in him,” Lynch said.
Donut God has breezed once at Palm Meadows since shipping to Florida, working in company with the capable 2-year-old maiden Nosleeptilbrooklyn. Hard held by a heavy rider, Donut God went a half mile in 49.40 seconds while toying with his company. Nonetheless, he’ll probably wind up negative value Saturday.
Sandpiper
In the Sandpiper, which drew nine fillies, Lynch starts the more workmanlike Mrs Worldwide, who posted a career-best effort winning a minor Florida-bred sprint stakes Nov. 16 in her fifth start.
“She’s just doing very well right now,” Lynch said.
Mrs Worldwide pressed a slow tempo in the Gulfstream win and likely finds herself in a faster-paced affair Saturday: Four of the entrants have TimeformUS early pace figures of 100 or higher.
Among them is Andrea, one of two entered by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. along with Paradise City, who is cross-entered Saturday at Gulfstream. Andrea after two front-running Gulfstream wins failed to find the lead in the Myrtlewood at Keeneland, chasing the pacesetters before coming up empty and checking in sixth.
:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.
Far better than she in the six-furlong Myrtelwood, won by the good filly Echo Sound, was Dancing Magic, who had her head turned at the start, got away poorly, then fell out the back door before an impressive, sustained move around the turn and through the stretch under Flavien Prat propelled her from 10th to a competitive fourth.
“Prat said he didn’t know why she was so far back. He was surprised, too,” trainer Mike Campbell said. “She left flat-footed and didn’t offer any speed. I counted her out at the start. It was remarkable the way she came running.”
A better start Saturday, and Dancing Magic might be a clear winner.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.