Samy Camacho could see he was dealing with a lot of horse when he arrived in the paddock to ride 2-year-old colt Donut God in the $125,000 Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Dec. 7.
"He was on his toes," Camacho said after the 9-10 favorite posted a 3/4-length victory from Naughty Rascal in stakes-record time of 1:09.13, .46 seconds off the 6-furlong track record, on a sun-blessed Cotillion Festival Day card.
Camacho let out a whinny to describe Donut God's pre-race demeanor. "He was like when you see a pretty girl," Camacho said, laughing.
Donut God's time bettered the former stakes mark of 1:09.32 set in 2014 by Catalina Red.
Once the race started, Donut God was all business. He led every step of the way in his second career start, although the Gerald Bennett-trained Naughty Rascal and jockey Miguel Vasquez made things exciting late.
Today, though, as he was in his debut at Churchill Downs last month, Donut God was too fast and too focused for Naughty Rascal or any of the five others.
"It was another great step forward for him," said trainer Brian Lynch, who conditions both Donut God and Mrs Worldwide, who won the $125,000 Sandpiper Stakes two races later, for owner Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing, LLC. "It's very exciting to see these young horses develop, particularly when they're precocious like him.
"He always looked like he was traveling comfortably throughout, and you could see when he was quickened (by Camacho) he kept giving. Samy obviously knows his way around this track - he's a cool sitter and a go-getter - and they looked great out there today.
"The fact he beat a two-time stakes winner (Naughty Rascal) adds some more depth to the win," Lynch said.
Candycrumbs rallied for third, a neck ahead of Mr. Squeaky Wheels.
In the Sandpiper Stakes, Samuel Marin rode Mrs Worldwide with tremendous confidence and was rewarded when she moved smoothly to the lead from a stalking position at his urging rounding the turn for home. Hollygrove and jockey Daniel Centeno closed determinedly, coming up a half-length short.
Dancing Magic finished third and the pace-setter, 25-1 shot Carroll's Honor, held on for fourth. Mrs Worldwide's time for the 6-furlong distance was 1:10.07. She paid $13.40 as the fourth wagering choice.
Lynch had departed Tampa Bay Downs before the Sandpiper to attend the wedding of Riley Ward, trainer Wesley Ward's son, in Ocala, leaving things in the capable hands of his son and assistant, Nic Lynch, and Marin. They did not disappoint.
"When I saw the first quarter (a swift 22.32 seconds), I thought Samuel had her in a great spot. She was traveling well and I started to think she had a pretty good shot," said Nic Lynch. "Then she came down the lane and held on, so it was a very successful trip for us up to Tampa. She's just a lovely filly to have in the barn."
Mrs Worldwide improved to 3-for-6, with two thirds. She won the Juvenile Fillies Sprint Stakes in her previous start on Nov. 16 at Gulfstream Park.
"Everything came out perfect," said Marin, who rode three winners on the nine-race card consisting of all 2-year-old races. "I tried to keep her out of trouble like (Brian Lynch) told me and she did it perfect. She let me set her down and when I did, I was so confident and happy where I was at.
"When I asked her, she just took off and did the rest. She's a lovely girl who can do whatever you want - if you want to go with her she'll do it, and if not she can sit right behind it. She's awesome and I'm thankful for the opportunity to ride her," Marin said.
Camacho, meanwhile, was also thankful to Lisa Allen, who ponied Donut God to the starting gate, for helping to keep him under control. "I was a little afraid because you don't want them to turn loose from the pony (and use too much energy)," Camacho said.
"Lisa took good care of me, and when he broke out of the gate he was like a bullet."
Camacho has won the Inaugural four times in the last five years. "I have a lot of respect for Gerald Bennett's horse, too," Camacho said. "He was coming."
Lynch said Donut God - a $400,000 purchase by Oregon resident Travis Boersma's Flying Dutchmen operation at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale - could return to Tampa Bay Downs for the $150,000, 7-furlong Pasco Stakes for newly-turned 3-year-olds on Jan. 11. "We want to keep him and Owen Almighty (another Flying Dutchmen stakes winner) separated for now," Lynch said.
Jan. 11 is also the date of the $150,000 Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, so that race could fit into Mrs Worldwide's plans.
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