Daily Racing Form handicappers Ashley Mailloux and Mike Beer preview a six-furlong allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.
Race 8 on Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs features a nine-horse field with a post time of 3:55 p.m. Eastern and a purse of $55,500. Mailloux and Beer both land on the same pick to win but diverge from there in a race neither found easy to handicap.
The horse to beat: No. 3 Silent Dreamer
Silent Dreamer, trained by Miguel Clement, is lightly raced and returning off a layoff – her last start came Aug. 31, 2025, at Monmouth Park, where she won in her second career start. Mailloux says she was not convinced that even a Silent Dreamer at 85 percent to 90 percent of that effort would be beaten here. “I just think based on that effort alone she was the horse to use,” she says.
Beer points to Clement’s record bringing horses back off extended absences and notes that Silent Dreamer’s previous comeback – off a 200-plus-day layoff – also produced a win. He adds that three runners from the Monmouth Park race came back to score next out, supporting the quality of the effort. The morning-line favorite, No. 4 Dominant Diva, was the pacesetter that day, and Silent Dreamer buried her around the turn. Beer notes that Samuel Marin, one of the leading riders at Tampa Bay Downs, is in the irons.
The favorite: No. 4 Dominant Diva
Dominant Diva enters at 3-1 on the morning line, cutting back from 6 1/2 furlongs where she set the pace last out. Both handicappers place her third. Mailloux says her figures have steadily declined across her last four starts and she does not want her on top at a short price. Beer agrees. He notes that Hot Dance – also back in this race – pressured Dominant Diva hard in the early going last time, and Dominant Diva had nothing left for the closing winner once that battle was done.
The price plays: No. 2 Hot Dance and No. 5 Bahamian Moon
Mailloux takes Hot Dance as her second pick, calling her intriguing if she opens at 6-1. The TimeformUS Pace Projector projects her settling third or fourth – a favorable position if the pace gets hot. Beer’s second choice is Bahamian Moon, a 9-year-old mare trained by Dennis Ward who offers class relief in this spot. Beer calls her dangerous, though he wonders whether a fast pace could compromise a mare who tends to be involved early.
DRF Picks
Ashley Mailloux
No. 3 Silent Dreamer
No. 2 Hot Dance
No. 4 Dominant Diva
Mike Beer
No. 3 Silent Dreamer
No. 5 Bahamian Moon
No. 9 Top Pocket Pick
Mailloux and Beer have a consensus winner, but different horses to fill out the exacta and trifecta for the DRF Race of the Day.
Watch for more thoughts on this race from Ashley and Mike:
Daily Racing Form is the most trusted source for horse racing news and information. Get an edge when you play the races with DRF.com.
For complete Derby Watch Top 20 rankings, visit DRF.com – Derby Watch analyzes top Kentucky Derby contenders each week. For odds, past performances and expert picks, visit DRF.com
Put yourself in position to win big this year with DRF’s Kentucky Derby Package. Top data and trusted picks all in one place.
Get more Daily Racing Form horse racing picks on a daily basis on our VSiN Horse Racing page.
