Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs

Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 3 Hillsborough Stakes is on tap for this Saturday, March 9 from Tampa Bay Downs. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will be featured in this 1 1/8 mile turf races as they chase their share of the $150,000 purse.

A strong field of 12 females will line up in the Hillsborough Stakes – race 9 on Tampa Bay Downs’ Saturday schedule. Post time is 4:45 PM. Let’s take a glance into the credentials of all 12 entries ahead of this Grade 3 stakes.

Old Tune – Impressive Brazilian bred Todd Pletcher trained mare is on a tear. She won four straight races at home before her debut in North America including three group I turf events that comprise Brazil’s Filly Triple Crown at Hipodromo Da Gavea in early 2012. The North American debut was an impressive win in the Grade 3 Endeavor Stakes here February 2 to make it five straight.

Mystical Star – won the Grade 2 New York Stakes June 30 over Hit It Rich but sandwiched around that win were a couple of unflattering eighths – the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes in May and the Grade 1 Beverly D August 18. She had a good second in the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster two back and was second last time out in the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap at Aqueduct November 10 – she has to be on the radar for this weekend’s race.

Appealing Cat – H. Graham Motion trained filly is coming off a very nice second in the Grade 3 Endeavor Stakes here February 2 – in her graded stakes debut. Before that was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming and an Allowance score three back. She has three wins, three seconds and two third place finishes in 11 career starts.

Last Full Measure – enters the Hillsborough coming off a pair of decent thirds in a pair of Grade 3 races – the Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs November 10 and the Endeavor Stakes last time out behind Old Tune here February 2. Before that was an Allowance score at Keeneland October 14.

Hooh Why – Saturday marks Hooh Why’s fifteenth start since January 2012. She placed in nine of 14 but hasn’t tasted victory since the First Dude Turf Distaff Stakes here in April. She ended 2012 with a third in the South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream December 9 and this year had a second in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf and a fourth last time out in the Grade 3 Endeavor Stakes here February 2.

Hillsborough Stakes betting at Tampa Bay Downs with OffTrackBetting.com

Blue Heart – has 10 career starts – nine at Woodbine with four wins, a second and a third place finish. Last time out was a fifth in the Grade 3 Endeavor Stakes here February 2 in her only race outside of Ontario.

Forces Of Darkness – Irish bred Chad Brown trained filly makes her first start in North America after recording four wins and two third place finishes in 11 career starts. She had a Group 3 Stakes score two back but was fourth in a Group 2 Stakes last time out October 6.

Kya One – made her North American debut for trainer Chad Brown with a fifth in the Nobel Damsel after mixed results in France. In 2012 she had two wins and a third place finish in six starts – the wins coming on April 5 in her native France and two back – a nice win in the Grade 3 My Charmer Handicap at Calder November 22. Last time out was an OK fourth in the Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream February 9.

Alaura Michele – is a multiple stakes winner for trainer Dale Romans that has struggled lately -a fifth last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream February 7 followed a tenth in the Grade 3 Pin Oak Valley View Stakes in October. Before that was a sixth at the Given Stakes and a third in the Riskaverse Stakes. She had two wins in three races early in 2012 – the P.G. Johnson and Nani Rose Stakes. She has three wins and one third place finish in nine career starts.

Absolute Crackers – Irish bred H. Graham Motion trained filly has 11 career starts with three wins, three seconds and a third place finish. She has four starts in North America – a Allowance score in her debut in October, a third in the Stardust Stakes in November an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Gulfstream January 13 and a disappointing sixth last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming also at Gulfstream.

Stars to Shine – won the Trillium Stakes and the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes at Woodbine on July 22. But Stars to Shine has struggled in her last three outings – a ninth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes three back was followed by an eighth in the minor Maple Leaf Stakes and a ninth last time out in the Grade 3 Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine November 24. Stars to Shine has been uncharacteristically poor of late but will be hoping to regain the form that saw her win two straight to start 2012.

Audington – local contender steps up in competition Saturday having raced five straight Claiming races on this track with two wins and two second place finishes before a win last time out in a Starter Handicap – also at Tampa Bay Downs February 23.

Race 9 on Tampa Bay Downs’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:45 PM.