Dynamic Sky led home a one-two punch for his connections in the Pasco (Tom Cooley Photography)

Owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse saw their coupled entry of Dynamic Sky and Sky Commander dominate Saturday's $52,500 Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs in the absence of morning-line favorite Purple Egg, an undefeated gelding who was an early scratch due to illness.

Stalking not far off pacesetter Mind Spell, who set fractions of :22 3/5 and :45 1/5, Dynamic Sky swung out for running room turning for home and briefly steadied off the heels of Sky Commander, who got a more favorable outside trip and was making a three-wide bid for the lead. Sky Commander's advantage inside the furlong pole was brief as Dynamic Sky finished full of run under Luis Contreras to score by three-quarters of a length in a time of 1:22 3/5 for seven furlongs over a fast track. The entry, which started at 3-5, paid $3.20, $3.40 and $2.20.

"I don't know how much they helped," said Casse, referring to Dynamic Sky wearing blinkers for the first time in the Pasco. "He started his little thing turning for home where he wanted to lay in, but Luis was able to correct him. It was a big race. I was a little disappointed he got a little hot today, which he has to overcome if he is going to be a Derby horse. But it was hot today, so we'll give him a pass.

"Sky Commander is a pretty decent horse, too. The time was definitely respectable, because Luis had nowhere to go and had to take him back and go around horses nearing the stretch. That cost him a little momentum, but he was able to overcome it."

Vitameta would not be beaten in the Gasparilla (Tom Cooley Photography)

Earlier Saturday, Arindel Farm's homebred Vitameta re-rallied inside the final furlong to prevail by a neck in the $65,000 Gasparilla for three-year-old fillies.

A pressing second as Talent N Passion set fractions of :22 1/5 and :45, Vitameta edged past that rival turning for home, momentarily conceded the lead to a rail-rallying Martha's Moon at the furlong pole, but came on again to get past that one and fend off a late surge from 63-1 longshot Cindys Casino to win. Under Jose Cruz, Vitameta covered seven furlongs in 1:23 4/5 and paid $3.80, $3 and $2.60 as the 9-10 favorite.

Cindys Casino finished second, a neck ahead of Martha's Moon. The field was rounded out by Carolinaonmymind, Talent N Passion, Cotton Pickin, Wildcat Lily, Floral Sky, This Is How and Candy Coded Kisses. Ladystarturengine was scratched.

"She is a fighter and wants to run, but she is learning to relax," Cruz said. "She wasn't tiring at the end; she was waiting on that filly (Cindys Casino) that was just behind us."

Trained by David Fawkes, Vitameta broke her maiden by seven lengths in her five-furlong debut at Calder July 1, but trailed a field of five in the Grade 2 Adirondack in her next start after acting up in the gate. She returned to Calder for an October 21 allowance, winning by five lengths going six furlongs, and last time fell a half-length short when second to Cor Cor in the December 1 Sandpiper at Tampa Bay Downs. She's now earned $77,200.