Favored Poppy’s Pride Wires Inaugural

OLDSMAR, FL – Stonehedge homebred Poppys Pride made good on his 6/5 favoritism when taking the field on a gate-to-wire chase in Saturday’s $100,000 Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Poppy’s Pride shot from the rail under Samy Camacho and posted opening fractions of :21.89 and :44.70 while Gatsby gave closest watch, but that rival’s bid for the lead failed at the top of the stretch.

Poppy’s Pride shied a bit from Camacho’s crop in mid-stretch, but the Michael Yates trainee was still strong enough to win the 6-furlong fast dirt sprint by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:10.05.

Al Heybay rallied up the inside to cross second by a 1/2-length over Thealligatorhunter, who earned third by a head past a weakening Gatsby.

Arrest Me Red and Tapsasional completed the order of finish in the race restricted to juveniles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEeh-TYJByk

Poppy’s Pride’s win was his fourth straight and third at the stakes level, following similar successes in the Armed Forces and the Juvenile Sprint in his 2 prior starts. The Khozan gelding’s overall record now stands at 6-4-1-1 with $211,724 earned.

Poppy’s Pride returned $4.40 to win, $3 to place, and $2.60 to show. Al Heybay brought back $4.20 to place and $3.20 to show, while Thealligatorhunter paid $5.40 to show.