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Eponymous feature highlights Tampa Bay stakes triple

Guys Reward will break outside in his Tampa Bay title defense (S V Photography) A maiden as recently as October, the four-year-old Sky Flight (Sky Mesa) seeks his second stakes victory and his fourth win in a row overall on Saturday in the $150,000 Tampa Bay (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Fifth in his belated debut in September at Kentucky Downs, the Mark Casse-trained colt reversed form when adding Lasix at Keeneland the following month. He has since parlayed that maiden victory with an allowance score at Churchill Downs and a one-length triumph in the $75,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream on December 20. Numerous grizzled veterans will be out to stop the young upstart. Guys Reward (Grand Reward) captured the 2014 edition of the Tampa Bay as well as the Oceanport (G3) at Monmouth last July, but went unplaced in the final three starts of the year. Lochte (Medaglia d'Oro) famously upset last season's Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1), but has not been quite as stellar in recent months competing on the Miami circuit.

The Illinois-bred Super Soldier (Lost Soldier) makes his stakes debut in the Tampa Bay after winning five of his past six starts, including a third-level allowance over the Tampa turf on January 3. Other leading contenders include Tricky Hat (Hat Trick), a past winner of the John's Call at Saratoga and the Laurel Turf Cup; Margano (Dynaformer), who captured the $200,000 PTHA President's Cup at Parx in September; and Old Time Hockey (Smarty Jones), whose last visit to Tampa resulted in victory in the Florida Cup Turf Classic.

Two-deep on the also-eligible list is War Correspondent (War Front), who could play a major role if he draws in. Christophe Clement's French import, won his U.S. debut impressively at Monmouth in September and followed that with a neck loss in the Autumn S. (Can-G2) over Woodbine's Polytrack.

Also on the program is the $100,000 Pelican, a six-furlong, main-track dash for older horses. Among those expected to have significant support in the pari-mutuel market are Star Harbour (Indian Charlie), Risk Factor (Stormy Atlantic), Calamondin (Curlin), Good Lord (Greatness), El Botas (Consolidator), and Joe Tess (Macho Uno).

A similarly wide-open affair will be the $100,000 Lightning City, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares. Madame Giry (Castledale), Sweet Emma Rose (City Zip), Tizgale (Stormy Atlantic), Richies Sweetheart (Bring the Heat), Biorhythm (Malibu Moon), Love Train (Tapit), and the also-eligible To My Valentine (Dyhim Diamond) all bring solid credentials.

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