Penelope P. Miller
Tampa Bay Downs

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Grade III $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby hopefuls Schoolyard Dreams and Uptowncharlybrown both worked Sunday morning in preparation for March 13’s 1 1/16 miles test. Schoolyard Dreams is a three-year-old Steven Got Even colt who was second in February’s Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes here for trainer Derek Ryan and owner Eric Fein (the same connections who captured the 2009 edition of the Tampa Bay Derby with Musket Man.) Schoolyard Dreams breezed a half mile in :47.3, the fastest of 64 works at that distance.

Uptowncharlybrown, a Limehousee colt conditioned by Alan Seewald for owners Fantasy Lane Stable, worked out of the gate today, going 3/8 miles in :35.3; Uptowncharlybrown, who was third in the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes, recorded the second fastest work at that distance of 27 horses.

Finish Lines…Trainer Jena Antonucci saddled her first career winner, Irish Wildcat, in Sunday’s 11th race. The three-year-old D’wildcat gelding was bred in Florida by owner Irish Eyes Stable and was booted home by Rosemary Homeister, Jr. Antonucci said that after winning her first race, she felt, “Ecstatic. I’m a little bit numb right now, but ecstatic. We were hoping (that he would be my first winner.) We were really patient with him, and Rosie rode him absolutely perfectly. We have fantastic owners that bred the horse and have been patient with the horse, and I’m just beyond ecstatic!”

Owner Midwest Thoroughbreds, trainer Jamie Ness and jockey Daniel Centeno paired up for two wins on today’s card; the trio took their first trip to the Winner’s Circle with Peaceful Crowd, a six-year-old Crowd Pleaser gelding. Ness, Centeno and Midwest Thoroughbreds struck again with Bubber, a six-year-old Kentucky-bred Brahms gelding.

Those victories constituted two of three wins for Centeno today; the perennial leading rider also piloted B J’s a Honey to victory. B J’s a Honey is a three-year-old Burning Roma filly owned by Jennifer Harries and trained by Jorge Navarro.

Racing resumes March 10 with a 10-race card.