Jack's Timeless hopes to shine in Matinee Idol at Derby Lane

ST. PETERSBURG — Jack's Timeless is enjoying a fabulous January. It may get even better on Monday, when the Lashmet kennel greyhound goes for his second stakes victory in the $10,000 Matinee Idol at Derby Lane.

The 550-yard feature in Race 10 at 2:47 p.m. is the track's only daytime stakes race.

Jack's Timeless, a 46-month-old male whose victory in the $8,000 Inaugural on Jan. 2 gave trainer Anthony Coello his first career stakes win, clocked a meet-best time of 30.49 seconds in Wednesday's qualifying for lifetime win No. 59.

"He's a nice dog, but he's turned out to be a lot nicer — even in his riper, older age now," Coello said.

Other finalists: Bella Spartan (Burk Greyhounds kennel), Bella Three Peat (Alderson), Dt'swildestdream (Capabal), Lego Andrew (Floyd), Mac's Gossie (Alabama), Magic Husker (Abernathy) and Tmc's Macom Cry (Pauline O'Donnell).

MORE DOGS: Husker Magic (Abernathy) returned Tuesday from a 48-day layoff and won her first schooling race as she prepares to defend her title in the $35,000 Daytona 550 National Championship on Jan. 23 at Daytona Beach Kennel Club.

HORSES: Tampa Bay Downs' 10-race card today (first post at 12:25 p.m.) may have a difficult time equaling the buzz generated on Jan. 9 when three longtime Oldsmar trainers sprung the day's biggest upsets.

Conditioner Gerald Bennett captured his first stakes win at the Downs in seven years when Fast Flying Rumor ($24.80 to win) prevailed in the $100,000 Turf Dash under jockey Ronnie Allen, Jr. His 5-furlong clocking of 55.06 seconds was the third fastest in the race's history. The last Downs stakes winner for Bennett was Blind River Fox in the 2009 Pelican. The Bennett barn won the Minaret in 2010 with Perf, but Mary Bennett, Gerald's wife, was listed as the trainer that day.

Fast Flying Rumor was claimed 12 months ago by Bennett for $25,000 when the 4-year-old West Acre gelding broke his maiden in his second start for then conditioner Kathleen O'Connell. It was Fast Flying Rumor's second stakes win.

Allie's Event ($18.80), making his first start as a 10-year-old, snapped a 13-race losing streak in an allowance optional claiming turf event for owner-trainer Lori Smock. The Florida homebred gelded son by Wild Event rallied from last place to win in a photo finish for his 12th career victory. Allie's Event trailed seven of his nine rivals entering the stretch under jockey Fernando De La Cruz.

"I wasn't worried," Smock said. "I loved where he was."

Allie's Event raised his lifetime earnings to $450,872 in his 56th start.

Good Save ($23), a 3-year-old Street Sense gelding, won his career debut against maiden special weight company for trainer Tom Proctor with Brian Pedroza aboard. Street Sense is the only Tampa Bay Derby champion to win the Kentucky Derby in 2007.