Daily Double Play at Tampa Bay on Saturday

The Saturday action at Tampa Bay Downs lacks a black-type event, but after handicapping the nine races on the card, I realized just how competitive the contests actually are. My favorite daily double sequence comes in the latter portion of the slate and below is my take on the two tilts. 

Race 7 Daily Doubles

• $9 double 6 with 6,8 ($18)
• $3 double 4,6 with 6,8 ($12)

Race 7 is a first-level allowance tilt on the green to be contested at 1 1/16 miles. The Chad Brown-trained #6 Going Concern (2-1) graduated on the course in his debut offering in February, and it appears that his best performance will beat this group. This lightly raced Kingman five-year-old regressed some with the hood going on in a try at Aqueduct in the summer, and he will race without blinkers off the shelf in this spot. The field lacks a ton of class and the gelding looms large under Antonion Gallardo. 

If the top pick falters, the Timothy Hamm-trained #4 Why Not Me (7-2) could benefit most of all. The four-year-old bay has shown marked improvement since getting off the dirt and stretching out, and he has gone close on the surface in two straight in advance of this one, as well. The  Commishttps://x.com/TwinSpires/status/1879547846615069088sioner gelding has rising Brisnet Speed numbers and also possesses the tactical speed to get the jump on the favorite turning for home, too. 

In Race 8, nine fillies and mares will jaunt 5 1/2 panels on the dirt in a $20,000 claiming contest. While I feel that #8 Laconia (4-1) might be better on the lawn, I still like the Kantharos filly off the claim for conditioner Jon Arnett in the well-matched cast. The Kentucky-bred four-year-old was running big while facing better in the summer and exits a solid try in his local bow in a race that was pretty good for the $10,000 level. The class rise is not a concern to me. 

#6 Twizzle (6-1) ran a lifetime best when dominating on the front end with cheaper on the oval last time and will be dangerous with even minor improvement on this occasion. The Monica McGooey trainee might be coming into her own right now and will offer value on the class hike. 

#7 Spanish Delight (5-2) is arguably the class of the field and has won or placed in 10 of 11 local runs leading up to Saturday. But, I didn’t love her last performance off the claim and will omit the seven-year-old.