Rowland enjoys Happy Ride at Tampa

After finishing fourth in her debut at odds of 22-1, Happy Ride revved it up several notches in her second try and showed great promise while breaking her maiden yesterday in a $40,000 claimer at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 3-year-old filly bred by long-time partners Joe and Helen Barbazon, Ed Seltzer and Beverly Anderson, received another textbook ride from apprentice sensation Madeline Rowland. She paid $26.40 and became the fifth winner this year for Ride On Curlin.

Rowland sent Happy Ride out quickly from the No. 4 post and she took up a stalking position behind 2-1 shot Adios Baby. The filly moved up on the turn, took the lead at the top of the stretch, and proved best at the wire by 2 1/2 lengths. She was clocked in 1:11.31 for the six furlongs and collected a check for $13,400.