Quatrocentro gets the photo following the Tampa Bay Stakes, Ben Baugh Photo
Ben Baugh
OLDSMAR, FL – It was a performance that would have made a renowned painter from the Paduan School proud, St. George Stable’s, LLC’s homebred Quatrocento won the 40th running of the $175,000 Tampa Stakes (Gr. 3) by 3 ¾-lenghts covering the 1 1/16-mile race on the turf in 141.51 at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 31, 2026.
The 5-year-old horse turned in an effort that was as astringent in perfection of draftsmanship as the painting by Andrea Mantegna, an artist of the quattrocento period, whose rendering of the young St. George, a Christian knight who suffered martyrdom in the pagan reign of the Emperor Diocletian, demonstrated the artist’s work who was in the employ of the House of Gonzaga, much in the same way Quatrocento showcased his talent by drawing off authoritatively to win the Tampa Bay Stakes. Julien Leparoux piloted Quatrocento to victory.
Fausto Gutierrez conditions the son of War Front, whose dam, Huasca, also a St. George Stable homebred by Tiz Wonderful, was a multiple stakes winner, with added money scores in the Uanme Stakes and Tangelo Handicap. Huasca also placed in the Adena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes (Gr. 3) and the Azalea Stakes (Gr. 3). Huasca bankrolled $264,078 during her career.
“Today’s race featured a very nice field, but here I think we lost more of a chance to be comfortable in front, I think that happened today,” said Gutierrez. “He’s a strong horse. At the end of the race, he started to run again. Last March here, he ran a spectacular race. Today, he came back with more power, he should have a nice campaign this year. As a 5-year-old, in my opinion, this will be the the best age for him.”
Quatrocento turned in several strong efforts during his four-year-old campaign, including back-to-back allowance scores this past summer at Kentucky Downs.
“The last six or seven races from this horse were absolutely competitive, the race at Kentucky Downs, the stake at Churchill, at Keenland the Grade One (Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes), the last race (The Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 20, 2025, where Quatrocento was beaten by a little over 3-lengths) the horse of Brian Lynch’s (Wolfie’s Dynaghost) set a North American record.”
The cooler temperatures, biting wind and intermittent rain, were warmed by Aussie Girl (IRE), whose performance was as hot as a summer afternoon in Perth, as the daughter of Starspangledbanner (Aus) lit up the dreary afternoon with a 2 ½ length score in the $175,000 Endeavour Stakes (Gr. 3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 31, 2026.
Sent off as the third choice in the wagering, Aussie Girl (IRE), who is trained by Will Walden and races in the silks of Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC, was in command throughout the race, under the confident handling of jockey Ben Curtis.
“I thought there might be a little bit more speed in the race, I didn’t really ask her to go to the lead, because if there was speed, I was happy to see it,” said Curtis. “I didn’t want to light her off and then take her back. I kind of judged then, there were five of us in a line coming down to the hip there, and that normally means there’s going to be no speed. I took the initiative, showed I was on the best horse and kept it as simple as possible.”
Aussie Girl won the Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont at the Big A by a neck on Oct. 19, 2025. The six-year-old mare also had an added money score in the Darley Irish E.B.F. Brigids Pasture Stakes at the Curragh on 10/7/2023.
Entering the stretch, Aussie Girl was clearly in command of the 27th running of the 1 1/16-mile race on the turf.
“I was confident, once I got her to relax, coming down the back when she flipped her leads, and came back to me I thought, it would take a very good one to beat us, especially from the half mile mark when she picked up, quickened to the quarter and there was nothing there in that field that was going to get her,” said Curtis.
