US expert Tom Collins sticks with five-race maiden to break his duck at Tampa

Onward
7.30 Tampa Bay Downs
1pt winCredit Cycle
9.30 Tampa Bay Downs
1pt each-wayAlthough just a $20,000 maiden special weight (7.30) contest, this 6f affair for three-year-olds may prove to be the best race of the night with some relatively unexposed sprinters representing some powerful connections.

Michael Stidham, who has had 29 winners from 104 runners (a cracking 29 per cent strike-rate) at this meet since July, is represented by first-time starter Branco Maria, a son of Argentinian-bred champion Candy Ride who will be sure to take some money in the pre-race markets.

The $385,000 purchase has shown some ability in his works and will likely feature if he doesn't show too much inexperience early on in the contest, but he will have to be pretty useful to beat the race-fit Onward.

Trained by Christophe Clement, who has an impressive 33 per cent strike-rate (11-33) at this venue to his name, Onward has had five starts so far and failed to trouble the judge.

Costing $600,000 as a yearling, Clement would have hoped for much more from the son of Street Sense and although he ran with promise on his debut at Saratoga and in maiden special weight contests in Aqueduct in November and December, his latest effort at Gulfstream was pretty poor.

He boasts plenty of early speed, which has proved more a downfall than benefit on his recent outings as he has dueled for the lead with other speedy sorts before paying for the excess energy used in the early stages.

Onward went lights out with two other rivals last time at Gulfstream, where he was relatively well fancied in the betting, and he dropped out of contention before the straight to finish seventh.

That run came over this trip of 6f, but he has clearly been found a much easier task this time around and should be able to grab a rail sit on the front from gate two.

Clement has booked veteran Tampa rider Daniel Centeno and Wednesday should finally be the day.

The other selection on the card is the exposed but very consistent Credit Cycle, who looks to finally break down the door he has been knocking at in the $10,300 claimer (9.30).

Robert Raymond's gelding has found his level in this kind of race and followed a first success at this venue in a weak 6½f contest in March with three runner-up efforts over a variety of trips.

Seemingly best over this 7f trip, Credit Cycle was supported before finishing behind a Samy Camacho-ridden favourite at this venue three weeks ago on a sloppy surface and should relish the faster conditions this time around.

He is a strong stayer at this trip and has plenty of early speed if rider Augusto Marin wants to go forward from his wide draw in gate eight. He looks a lock to finish in the frame.

Credit Cycle's biggest danger may be Rosas Way, who is drawn outside him in gate ten but has the single best piece of form in this race when third behind a couple of smart rivals on his penultimate outing last month.

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