With the clock stopped at just .4 seconds outside the 1mile and 70yds Tampa Bay Downs course record, Contraflow created a very favourable impression when breaking his maiden on Wednesday, December 16.
The Phoenix Thoroughbreds owned gelding was making only his second career start and dominated the MSW event from start to finish. Building on what was a promising debut Mike Stidham’s charge to a big step forward to run away with the prize with a promise of more to come.
Jockey Hector Diaz Junior soon manoeuvred the son of Street Sense into an early and was travelling strongly in front through the first two turns. Travelling at what initially looked just a modest pace, the grey was finding everything well within his comfort zone as he stayed in front down the backstretch. Just as the field reached the turn, Diaz Junior started to turn the screw and with minimal effort, a noticeable gap back to his rivals opened up. That only increased in the run for home with three-year-old eased down late on.
Although only time will tell how good this victory was there are plenty of reasons for Contraflow’s owners to be optimistic. The lightning-quick time is a good indication he has some class but also the daylight back to the second horse Centrifuge looks promising with that rival a half-brother to Honor Code.