Spot Plays for Tampa, Gulfstream Jan. 31, 2026

With much of the country still frozen out on offering live racing this weekend, most eyes and dollars will be directed toward the action offered at Florida's two racetracks, Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park. There appear to be ample opportunities to cash on their stakes-laden programs on Saturday, and here are a quartet of races I'll be focused on.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 6: Maiden, 2:55 p.m. ET

Although #9 Elegant Charm (8-1) hasn't yet caught the eye after two starts, it's possible conditions did not suit in either race. He was outsprinted over a swiftly run five furlongs over Tapeta on debut, and last time faded when rating behind a pace that slowed down on turf.

The Mark Casse trainee is bred to be more effective on dirt, which he tries for the first time here, going 6 1/2 furlongs. Indeed, he's a half-brother to Coffee in Bed and Great Stuff, both graded stakes winners on the main track. Given the presence of a few capable second-time starters, and with a few debut runners also likely to take money, Elegant Charm figures to be a square price while adding Lasix.

Gulfstream Park Race 7: Allowance, 3:15 p.m. ET

Saturday marks the first time #6 Concord Green (10-1) will have strung together three consecutive starts since his two-year-old season, when he caught the eye graduating at Saratoga on first asking and later placed in the Awad S. at Aqueduct.

Gelded last fall, Concord Green finished a close second two back at Tampa, and then dug himself too deep a hole to make an impact going 1 1/16 miles. Perhaps a more conducive trip, and stretching out to 1 3/8 miles for the first time, might suit him.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 7: Tampa Bay (G3), 3:25 p.m. ET

Aside from one dull race at Keeneland last April, #7 Tom's Magic (3-1) has been admirably consistent. A classic winner in Canada last fall, he followed up with a narrow loss in the Hollywood Derby (G1). In the process, he outfinished Test Score, who registered a mild upset in last week's Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1).

Tom's Magic has far fewer miles under him than nearly all of these, and perhaps might offer a hint of modest value with Grade 1 veteran Win for the Money among his rivals.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 9: Endeavour (G3), 4:25 p.m. ET

#4 Al Jafara (9-2) was taken out of serious training for four months last summer, so we didn't get a further gauge on her overall quality following a last-to-first, entry-level allowance win at Keeneland in her U.S. debut.

Although an N2X allowance might be hard to find this time of year, connections are clearly showing bullishness by throwing her into this race following a layoff approaching 10 months. Chad Brown trainees are generally live when shipping here from Payson, but even more intriguing is the success of Brown and jockey Samy Camacho. Together, they win at a clip greater than 40% while showing a flat-bet profit.