Testa Rossi Ready To Roll in Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs

Testa Rossi Ready To Roll in Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs: Despite a fast beginning in America for turf runner Testa Rossi, including two different G3 wins and a second place finish in the 2013 G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, she disappointed fans with two off-the-board finishes to end her 2014 campaign.

Now, the French-bred filly looks ready to fire in the G3 Lambholm South Endeavour S. with five straight bullet workouts posted on the tab.

Each bullet workout resulted in a faster time than a sizable amount of other horses training too. Sometimes workers get the bullet designation because not many horses showed up for the distance. In Testa Rossi’s case, the most recent bullet was a “best out of 33” work. In addition, two workouts ago she earned the “best out of 27” and three workouts ago she worked a “best out of 38” bullet.

Before going on this bullet tirade, Testa Rossi finished a non-threatening seventh in the G2 Mrs. Revere S. at Churchill Downs. But, the competition was stiff as the first two finishers ended up being monster turf performer Sparkling Review and Lady Lara, a filly good enough to finish on even terms with older horse and G1 Woodbine Mile winner Trade Storm in Europe.

Months earlier in the G1 Ashland S. at Keeneland, Testa Rossi lost position on the first turn and ran only three lengths off the leaders approaching the second turn. Every horse near the pace collapsed. Rosalind (also in this race) moved before the turn just after Testa Rossi, and Rosalind’s outside position gave the advantage as she and Room Service engulfed the leaders.

Testa Rossi struggled on the inside and flattened out.

The Ashland loss for Testa Rossi is forgivable. If Testa Rossi runs to her potential, which looks probable after those blazing workouts, she will win as the favorite for trainer Chad Brown. From the rail, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. can give Testa Rossi a ground saving trip on the first turn and tip out coming for home.

As for the other contenders, the aforementioned Rosalind breaks right next to Testa Rossi and starts for Brown too instead of former trainer Ken McPeek after being sold at auction for $1 million. Rosalind’s last two starts before the auction gave the impression of a disinterested horse. Perhaps a hidden reason exists for those non-efforts.

The Wayne Catalano trained I’m Already Sexy in the No. 6 slot owns graded stakes experience and tremendous early speed. With a possible uncontested lead, maybe she slips away and puts the field to sleep. If she fades late, an on-the-board finish seems plausible and would fit the name of owner Hit the Board Stables.

Starting from No. 9, the seven-year-old mare Julie’s Love makes her season debut and also ran in plenty of previous graded stakes races. Trainer Graham Motion is well respected with turf horses and spots his runners well. Consider this one underneath.

Right next to Julie’s Love on the right, Maria Maria at 20/1 offers value seekers a longshot bomb to spice up the trifecta and superfecta. Most of this filly’s races came at the optional claiming or allowance level, but note the close third against elite turf horse Bobby’s Kitten last year on this course.

One more spot to the right, Hard Not to Like makes her first start since winning the G1 Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland in April. She makes her first start for new trainer Christophe Clement, and with some luck from this difficult post could provide a challenge for Testa Rossi.

Nevertheless, Testa Rossi remains the top pick. Key Testa Rossi on top and use any combination of Rosalind, I’m Already Sexy, Julie’s Love, Maria Maria and Hard Not to Like underneath.

If Testa Rossi fails to fire in this spot, she may never return to her best form.

Endeavour Stakes 2015 Post Positions & Odds
Race #10 4:50 PM ET
1 Testa Rossi 3-1 Ortiz, Jr./Brown
2 Rosalind 12-1 Goncalves/Brown
3 Naughty Holiday 30-1 Leparoux/Fawkes
4 Save the Park 15-1 Gallardo/Baker
5 Principessa Ava 20-1 Saez/Sheppard
6 I’m Already Sexy 4-1 Mena/Catalano
7 Medea 20-1 Boyce/Abbott, III
8 Rock On Baby 20-1 Zayas/Wolfson
9 Julie’s Love 8-1 Maragh/Motion
10 Maria Maria 20-1 Emigh/DiVito
11 Hard Not to Like 7-2 Velazquez/Clement
12 Lots o’ Lex 30-1 Homeister, Jr./Aschinger
13 Why Katherine 10-1 Centeno/Attard
14 Tokyo Time 15-1 Boulanger/McGaughey III