Penelope P. Miller
Tampa Bay Downs

OLDSMAR, Fla. – FlameStone Grill Trainer of the Month Alan Seewald has enjoyed a fantastic season at Tampa Bay Downs, his first year wintering at the Oldsmar oval. Seewald also keeps a string at Philadelphia Park, where he won a race on March 16. Seewald, who is a regular at Monmouth Park in the summer months, set up his stable here in December with help from his assistant trainer Linda White, who has worked for Seewald for 13 years. In the week of March 10 – March 17, Seewald has conditioned three winners from 6 starters at average odds of 8.3-1.

Alan Seewald obtained his trainer’s license in 1984 and went out on his own in January of the following year. He was the trainer of Monmouth Park favorite Teddy Drone, a Hall of Champions member who was honored with his own day at Monmouth. In 2003 Seewald captured the Grade 3 Salvator Mile when Vinemeister went wire-to-wire, also at Monmouth Park.

This year at Tampa Bay Downs, Seewald has saddled Uptowncarlybrown to two victories as well as a third-place finish in the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes here. The Limehouse colt most recently missed the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby on March 13 by only 2 ¾ lengths following a troubled trip. Earlier on the afternoon of the 13th, Seewald saddled Above Spirit to her fourth lifetime victory. Seewald also conditions stakes winner R Betty Graybull, who has won four of her races, come in second twice and third twice in eleven attempts.

Finish Lines… Conditioner Manuel Criollo saddled two winners, Wednesday; the trainer took home his first win of the day with Wild Weather Event, a four-year-old Wild Event bred in Florida by owner Jack Treadway and ridden by Luis Gonzalez.  Criollo scored again in the afternoon’s sundowner with Soldier In Charge, this time for owner Robert Van Worp with Noel Vigil in the irons.

Racing resumes March 18 with a ten race card; there is a Pick 6 carryover of $13,484.98 and a High Five carryover of $8,805.89.