Tampa tune-up for Breeders' Cup hero World Approval

Preview: USA, Saturday 10.25pm GMT (live on ATR)

Tampa Bay Downs: Tampa Bay Stakes (Grade 3) 1m½f | turf | 4yo+

American turf champion World Approval (Mark Casse/John Velazquez), who thwarted the European team in the Breeders' Cup Mile, begins a six-year-old campaign that could take in Dubai and Royal Ascot when he runs at Tampa Bay on Saturday.

A best-priced 5-1 favourite for the Dubai Turf (ex-Duty Free), World Approval concedes 7lb to his Grade 3 rivals in the Tampa Bay Stakes.

"He's not totally fit, but he's been training well and I'd say he's probably about 90 per cent right now," Casse said, speaking to the Blood-Horse.

"He's a champion now and you never want to see a champion get beat no matter what the circumstances. They say great horses can win races even when things are not all in their favour, and I think World Approval's a great horse so I think he'll be right there."

Also on Saturday

Gulfstream Park: Gulfstream Park Turf Hcap (Grade 1) 1m1f | turf | 4yo+ (9.10pm GMT, live on ATR)

The sole Grade 1 of the weekend features Heart To Heart (Brian Lynch/Julien Leparoux) and Money Multiplier (Chad Brown/Javier Castellano), both familiar faces without quite getting the job done at the highest level.

Tampa Bay Downs: Sam F Davis Stakes (Grade 3) 1m½f | dirt | 3yo (9.52pm GMT, live on ATR)

The Kentucky Derby prep-race season is already in full swing and Catholic Boy (Jonathan Thomas/Manny Franco), who won the Grade 2 Remsen by nearly five lengths on his final start at two, sets out on the Classic road here.

Remsen runner-up Avery Island franked the form last week at Aqueduct but Catholic Boy must overcome a 6lb weight concession to unbeaten Vino Rosso (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez), whose trainer make a habit of winning these preps.

Santa Anita: Santa Maria Stakes (Grade 3) 1m½f | dirt | 4yo+ f/m (9,30pm GMT)

Despite her defeat at the Breeders' Cup, Unique Bella (Jerry Hollendorfer/Mike Smith) was named champion female sprinter at last month's Eclipse Awards. The big grey filly, who won the Grade 1 La Brea over Christmas at this venue, steps up in trip as she kicks off her four-year-old season against four rivals.

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