Tampa Bay Downs horses catch a bit of Gators fever

OLDSMAR — If you were at Tampa Bay Downs this week, it paid to be a Gators fan.

A pair of 3-year-old, first-time starters with names related to the Florida Gators' national championship football team won easily at the thoroughbred track.

On Thursday, before the Gators beat the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 in the BCS title game in Miami, Go Tebow Go paid $10 to win with an 81/2-length victory in maiden special weight company on the 1-mile turf course. The colt, conditioned by former Downs training champion Lynne Scace for owners Ann and John Adams, was ridden by Rosemary Homeister.

Tim Tebow is the Gators quarterback, known for his hard-nosed running style, who now has two national championship rings.

Muddy Gator, a filly running for a $25,000 claiming tag, won a 6-furlong sprint on Friday for two-time defending champion Jamie Ness and owner Peter Mattson. She won by 41/2 lengths, returning $20.20 under jockey Huber Villa-Gomez.

"I didn't even realize the (Gators) connection with my horse until after the race," Ness said. "But when (Go Tebow Go) won the other day, everyone in the grandstand was talking about it — saying it was a lock. It was kind of odd that the horse won on national championship day. Not only did he run, but to win the way he did …"

Said Tampa Bay Downs switchboard operator Tammy Dunn: "I guess it paid off to be a fan of the Gators."