Veteran trainer Joe Orseno is aiming high in Saturday’s Turf Sprint Showcase at Tampa Bay Downs. Known for his prestigious career highlights, including a Preakness win with Red Bullet in 2000 and two Breeders’ Cup victories in the same year, Orseno has entered three horses in the $100,000 Turf Dash Stakes — a race for horses aged four and older — and one horse in the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes, which is exclusive to fillies four years and up.
Both events will be run over five furlongs on the turf, with Lightning City scheduled as the sixth race and Turf Dash closing out the card as the tenth, starting at 12:16 p.m. While none of Orseno’s four contenders have yet claimed a stakes win, each appears well positioned. His standout contender in the Turf Dash is Leather Rolex, a five-year-old Florida-bred gelding who has impressively won nine consecutive races. Edgardo Zayas will take the reins from Orseno and owner Scott Herbertson aboard Rezas Rolex, who will start from post No. 3 in a field of 12.
Leather Rolex recently made an impressive Tampa Bay Downs debut on January 11, winning a five-furlong allowance/optional turf sprint by one and a half lengths after setting a fast pace. Dark Vintage and Esperon, both participants in that race, are also returning for another effort. Leather Rolex boasts a record of 13 wins and two second-place finishes in 17 starts and is set to make his stakes debut this Saturday.
Orseno’s other Turf Dash runners also hail from Florida. Extend, a six-year-old owned by Robert Cotlan, has secured seven wins in 24 races, including a runner-up finish to Smithwick’s Spice in this year’s Turf Dash. Cipriano Gil will pilot Extend from post 12. Another competitor, And You Wish, is co-owned by Orseno along with Suzette and Adam Parker. This five-year-old gelding will be ridden by jockey Israel Rodriguez from post 10 and comes with a solid record of three wins and four second-place finishes in 11 career starts, including a runner-up spot in the Janus Stakes at Gulfstream Park last December.
Among the favorites for the Turf Dash is My Boy Prince, a five-year-old gelding owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Kass. With six stakes wins and recent second-place finishes in the Grade I Rogers Woodbine Mile and the Grade I Jaipur Stakes, My Boy Prince will start from post two under Tampa Bay’s leading jockey Samuel Mullin. The field also includes last year’s winner, Rookie, a five-year-old Florida gelding owned by Tropic Lightning Racing and trained by Gerald Bennett, with Sammy Camacho taking the mount from post one.
In the Lightning City Stakes, eight fillies are entered, led by Etruscan, a five-year-old Florida-bred owned by Orseno alongside L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt. She has won three out of 14 races and is expected to attract strong betting interest, with Zayas set to ride from post six. Trainer Mark Casse’s Creed’s Gold, a five-year-old with 11 wins and four seconds, including a Grade III Hendry Stakes victory at Woodbine last July, may be the favorite from post three with Sonny Leon aboard. Love Appeals, a six-year-old filly owned by Moyglare Stud Farm and trained by Miguel Clement, is also highly regarded after back-to-back wins in the Incredible Revenge Stakes at Monmouth Park and six wins total in 18 races. Camacho will ride from post five.
Among the Lightning City contenders is Bahama Unmoon, last year’s third-place finisher, a nine-year-old Florida horse owned by Leyden Jack Racing and David F. Kegley and trained by Dennis Ward. Sarah Hess will ride from post one as Bahama Unmoon aims to capture her 13th win and push her career earnings past $500,000.
This article was first published by Paulick Report on February 12, 2026, in their News section.
Fan Take: Horse racing enthusiasts should be excited by the depth and quality of competition Orseno’s entries bring to Tampa Bay Downs, signaling a vibrant future for turf sprint racing. These races spotlight rising talent and seasoned contenders alike, promising thrilling finishes that showcase the sport’s enduring appeal and competitive spirit.
