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March To The Arch Set For Tampa Bay Stakes

Author: Clint Goodman
Published: Friday February 07, 2020
In his last 11 starts, March to the Arch has had some troubles. A five-wide trip in nine of those starts resulted in a record of three wins and no seconds, and he finished within 1 1/2 lengths of the winner in four of them.

In his last race, he had some problems after breaking slow and a five-wide trip, but he was able to score a victory in the Jan. 1 Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes. The 5-year-old Arch gelding is looking to repeat that performance for trainer Mark Casse in Saturday's $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs. 

Ground-Saving Trip

Since jockey Tyler Gaffalione and the grade 2 winner will have the rail in a field of nine, March to the Arch will get a ground-saving trip for a portion of the 1 1/16-mile turf test. 

"He's been very close," Casse said. "Watch the replay of his last race at Keeneland, and he very easily could have won the race. (The Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream Park) was not as tough, but nothing went right for him, and he was still able to win. My only small concern is we're coming back quickly, but he loves Tampa."

The Keeneland race was the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T), and it was two starts back. March to the Arch straightened out after the start and fanned five-wide on the final turn, and the Florida-bred horse finished fifth. He was one length behind the winner Bowies Hero.

March to the Arch is out of the Black Sam Bellamy mare Daveron, and he is the half-brother to Grade 3 winner Global Access. He has a first and second in two starts on turf at Tampa, the win coming from the Touch Vodka Turf Classic Stakes last year.

His record is at 6-2-1 in 18 starts with earnings of $592,294. 

Caribou Club, Hembree, Real Story

Glen Hill Farm's Florida-bred Caribou Club is another closer who will be running. He has not finished worse than second in his last three starts, and those were all in stakes company. 

The 6-year-old City Zip gelding is trained by Thomas Proctor, and he will make his 2020 debut after being defeated by a neck in the Nov. 9 Artie Schiller Stakes on turf at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

Before that race, he scored the Sept. 21 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Laurel Park and the West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker's Cup on turf at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. 

Also running will be Three Diamonds Farm's Hembree, and he should be in the back at the start. Trained by Mike Maker, Hembree has not raced since finishing fourth by a length in the Aug. 31 Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs. 

His record stands at 6-10-4 in 30 starts with earnings of $673,783. He scored the 2018 Nearctic Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine in what was his only graded stakes win. 

Jeffrey S. Amling and Merriebelle Stable's grade 3 winner Real Story will be looking to score a win at Tampa Bay Downs. In the Shadwell Mile, he fought for the lead early before eventually finishing last by 20 lengths in a field of 14. 

He has since rested, and the 5-year-old Fast Bullet gelding should do better with a field of early runners. 

Real Story's only graded stakes win was the 2018 American Derby (G3T).