The last time Isabella Sings set foot on the turf course at Tampa Bay Downs, in the Hillsborough (G2) last March, she set a hot pace while building up an 18-length lead over then-reigning Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Tepin, only to see that eventual dual champion wear her down very late by a length.
With Tepin having to pass on Saturday’s rematch in the $150,000 Endeavour (G3) after a colic attack last weekend, Isabella Sings might not be caught in the 1 1/16-mile feature for fillies and mares, which is among three stakes on the Sam F. Davis (G3) undercard.
Later successful in three stakes, including the Eatontown (G3) and My Charmer H. (G3), Isabella Sings comes off a narrow loss to stablemate Sandiva in the Marshua’s River (G3) at Gulfstream and figures to be a solid favorite to lead all the way.
Also expected to garner some support are the Chad Brown-trained pair of Light In Paris and Elysea’s World (the latter was cross-entered in Saturday’s Suwannee River [G3] at Gulfstream), as well as stakes winners Josdesanimaux and Lots o’ Lex.
The $150,000 Tampa Bay, also at 1 1/16 miles but for the boys, appears a more contentious race on paper. Notables include Grade 3 winners Kasaqui and Inspector Lynley, the former a narrow runner-up in last season’s Arlington Million (G1).
Multiple Grade 2 veteran Kaigun and the lightly-raced Chad Brown pupil Catapult also figure prominently in the 1 1/16-mile test.
Perhaps the most anticipated of the three undercard stakes is the $100,000 Suncoast for three-year-old fillies, which marks the sophomore debut of Elate. The Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider homebred impressively captured her one-mile debut at Aqueduct last November by 12 1/2 lengths for trainer Bill Mott.
Although no Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points are on the line in the Suncoast, Elate can certainly enter the Oaks discussion with a strong effort. Contested at one mile and 40 yards, the Suncoast also features three-time stakes winner R Angel Katelyn.
