Making his third start of the year on Saturday, March 10, Robert Gerczak’s Action Andy proved once more his affinity for Tampa Bay Downs by setting a track record for six and a half furlongs.

Facing six others as the even-money favorite in the sixth race, a handicap in which he was assigned top weight of 121 pounds, Action Andy gave backers a scare as the field headed into the far turn. Stalking the early pace (:22.90, :45.02, 1:08.98), the son of Gators N Bears began to drift back as the leaders rounded the turn. Moving through along the rail, Action Andy, with Daniel Coa up, rallied down the stretch and drove past pacesetting Tommy’s Memory late, winning by a length and a half in 1:15.47, slicing .57 of a second off the previous mark.
Five times Action Andy has won at Tampa Bay from seven starts over the past two seasons?–?he also has two seconds. The Carlos A. Garcia-trained runner remains undefeated this year, having also taken Tampa Bay’s Super Stakes and Pelican Stakes in his two prior outings. In getting his third win of the year, he increased his lifetime earnings mark to $206,870.
Bred in Maryland by Carol Kaye, Action Andy is the first foal out of Love Me Twice (by Not For Love), a half-sister to stakes winners Baltimore Bob ($377,217, Da Hoss S, etc.), Baltimore Belle ($359,064, Maryland Million Oaks, etc.) and Gabianna ($136,610, The Very One S). Baltimore Belle finished second in Laurel Park’s Conniver Stakes later that same hour.