OLDSMAR - As part of its centennial celebration, Tampa Bay Downs will host the 11th annual “Jockeys and Jeans” Fundraiser for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund on Friday and Saturday on the first floor of the Grandstand.

    Friday’s event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. is billed as a “Once in a Lifetime” Autograph Meet & Greet event featuring such legendary riders as Steve Cauthen, Laffit Pincay Jr., Angel Cordero Jr., Pat Day, Chris McCarron, Jean Cruguet, Sandy Hawley, Jacinto Vasquez, Edgar Prado, Jorge Velasquez, Mike Manganello, Ramon Dominguez, Earlie Fires and others.

    Tickets are available for the “Once in a Lifetime” event for $40 apiece on the “Jockeys and Jeans” website at www.jockeysandjeans.com.

    On Saturday, active jockeys will be available for autograph signing from noon-2 p.m. on the first floor of the grandstand. A donation to the PDJF is requested.

    The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund is a 501 (c) (3) public charity that provides financial assistance to approximately 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries, predominantly paralysis and/or brain injuries.

    Festival Preview Day was filled with memorable performances. Victories Saturday by 3-year-old colt Renegade in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes and Zany in the $125,000 Suncoast Stakes highlighted an outstanding day of racing.

    Renegade, who collared longshot leader Wayne’s Law in the stretch and rolled on to victory under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., is likely to make his next start on March 28 in the Arkansas Derby, according to both trainer Todd Pletcher and co-owner Mike Repole of Repole Stable. Renegade’s breeders and co-owners, Robert and Lawana Low, are Springfield, Mo., residents known as passionate Oaklawn Park supporters.

    Pletcher told racing journalist Lynne Snierson they will keep their options open, but ruled out a return to Oldsmar for the Gr. III, $400,000 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.

    A crowd of 5,261 turned out for the festivities in cool, sunny weather. Total all-sources wagering handle was $11,484,564.
Somewhat overlooked amid four exciting stakes races were strong undercard performances by a pair of 3-year-old maidens.

    In the sixth race, first-time starter Emerging Market, a son of Candy Ride out of an Empire Maker mare, rallied stoutly through the stretch to catch the favorite, fellow first-time starter Powershift, by three-quarters of a length. Flavien Prat was aboard the winner for owner Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown.

    Emerging Market’s time of 1:39.11 for the mile-and-40-yard distance was .97 seconds off Golden Juan’s track record. Powershift finished 13 ½  lengths ahead of third-place finisher Make My Day.

    Three races later, another first-time starter, Kokomotion, rallied from dead-last early to post a resounding 8 ¼-length victory from Ati Girl in a mile-and-sixteenth turf event for maiden 3-year-old fillies. Jevian Toledo was aboard for the romp in the sunshine. Kokomotion is a daughter of Quality Road owned by Icon Racing Stable and trained by Whit Beckman.

    Turf Sprint Showcase Day is Saturday. Rezasrolex, a 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding who is riding a nine-race winning streak, is a probable entrant for Saturday’s $100,000, 5-furlong Turf Dash Stakes for older horses sprinting 5 furlongs on the Oldsmar turf course.

    Rezasrolex won his Tampa Bay Downs debut on Jan. 11 on the grass under jockey Edgard Zayas, scoring in :55.65 seconds for 5 furlongs. He is owned by his breeder Scott Herbertson and trained by Joseph Orseno.

    Last season’s Turf Dash winner, trainer Gerald Bennett’s 5-year-old gelding Rouki, is also among the probable starters.

    The other stakes race on the card is the $100,000, 5-furlong Lightning City Stakes for older fillies and mares on the grass. Trainer Victor Barboza Jr.’s 5-year-old mare and 2025 winner Great Venezuela is expected to return to defend.

    Rouki sprang a 20-1 upset last year in the Turf Dash for Bennett and owner Tropic Lightning Racing. He has five victories from 14 lifetime starts. Samy Camacho was aboard for the triumph. Great Venezuela, who is owned by Orlyana Farm, won the 2025 Lightning City under Leonel Reyes as the 2-1 favorite. Great Venezuela is 9-for-16 lifetime with four seconds.

    In the Turf Dash, Bennett may also start Team Equistaff’s 4-year-old gelding Aegon Targaryen. Other Turf Dash probables include multiple stakes-winner Coppola, from the barn of Dale Romans, and 5-year-old gelding and career millionaire and six-time stakes-winner My Boy Prince, a multiple Gr. I-placed Ontario-bred trained by Mark Casse.

    Two horses from the Casse barn are under consideration for the Lightning City: 5-year-old Creed’s Gold, who won the Gr. III Hendrie at Woodbine last July in her most recent start, and 4-year-old filly Abientot, a Gr. II winner. Expected to make her Oldsmar turf course debut is 6-year-old Love Appeals, a multiple stakes-winner trained by Miguel Clement.

    Around the oval. Daniel Centeno rode three winners today. He captured the first race on 6-year-old Florida-bred ridgling Copazo for owner GOP Racing Stable and trainer Gerard Ochoa, then added the sixth race with Blue Fashion, a 5-year-old mare owned by Amaty Racing Stables and trained by Jose A. Gallegos. Blue Fashion was claimed for $8,000 by trainer Gregg Sacco for new owner Elliot Mavorah.

    Centeno wasn’t done yet, winning the eighth aboard first-time starter Hulkamania, a 3-year-old colt owned by Hoolie Racing Stable, Blue Mist Racing and Icon Racing Stable and trained by Whit Beckman.

    All patrons attending the Wednesday, Feb. 18 racing program marking the 100th anniversary of the first race in track history will receive a season Grandstand pass for the 2026-27 meet.

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