Race 4: #3 Saratoga Boot (turf only) (9-2)

Trainer Dennis Ward is 24% first off the claim and he claimed this 8-year-old last time out after three straight on the dirt. However, this gelding has four lifetime wins on the turf and it appears that exactly what Ward had in mind.

==

Race 7: #1 Valkyria (4-1)

This daughter of Value Plus (11% first-time out sire) gets the powerful trainer-jockey combination of Gerald Bennett and Antonio Gallardo (33%). Bennett is 19% with first-time starters.

Editor’s note: This will be my last Tampa Bay Downs opinions blog. If I see a horse down the line, I will mention it on the SoCal blog. I’ve enjoyed Tampa, learned a lot of things, missed some scores and learned Antonio Gallardo rules.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter