By Christie DeBernardis
John Oxley's Flameaway (Scat Daddy) sprung the upset last time at Tampa Bay with a 10-1 score in the Feb. 10 GIII Sam F. Davis S., but will line up as the favorite this time around in Saturday's GII Tampa Bay Derby. Capturing an off-the-turf renewal of the Skidmore S. and the turfy GIII Bourbon S. last season, the Mark Casse pupil kicked off this term with a win in the grassy Kitten's Joy S. at Gulfstream Jan. 6. The chestnut was working so well on dirt his connections decided to give him another try on the main track in the Sam Davis and were rewarded with a half-length score.
Vino Rosso (Curlin) looked like one to bet back next time when closing hard to be third in the Sam Davis. The $410,000 KEESEP buy, who followed his debut win at Aqueduct Nov. 11 with a NW1 victory here Dec. 22, adds blinkers for this test.
Dale Romans upset last weekend's GII Fountain of Youth S. with Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) and looks to pull off another surprise here with Tiz Mischief (Into Mischief). A head second to GIII Gotham S.-bound Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 25, the bay was third behind Audible (Into Mischief) and GISW stablemate and Gotham contender Free Drop Billy (Union Rags) in the GII Holy Bull S. Feb. 3. Tiz Mischief has been working well in the interim and will hope for a hot pace to run into here.
Two other runners of intrigue here are World of Trouble (Kantharos) and Untamed Domain (Animal Kingdom). Romping by 14 lengths when unveiling in a $25,000 maiden claimer at Gulfstream in August, World of Trouble was privately purchased by Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables after that debut and checked in second in the Florida Sire Affirmed S. next out. Transferred from Kathleen O'Connell to Jason Servis, the bay wired the field by 13 3/4 lengths in the seven-panel Pasco S. here Jan. 20 and tries two turns for the first time in this test.
Untamed Domain has been quite successful on turf up to this point and trainer Graham Motion will give him a chance to show the same versatility as his GI Kentucky Derby-winning sire in this first try over the main track. Winner of the GII Summer S. in September, the “TDN Rising Star” was second to the blue-blooded Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 3 and came running a bit too late when third last time in the GIII Dania Beach S. at Gulfstream Feb. 3.
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