Bahamian Squall’s eighth winner of 2023 is Axcel, a first-time starter owned and bred by SCF Inc. who won at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday via a slick ride by Richard Bracho. 

    The 3-year-old gelding was slow to begin from the No. 1 post and raced sixth and last going to the first quarter, about 10 lengths off the leaders. He picked it up on the turn for home, then swept wide nearing the top of the stretch, when Bracho yanked him to the left and Axcel slipped between horses for the drive. In the lane, he ran down I Like Boston and beat the 6/5 favorite to the wire by 1 1/4 lengths. The time for the six furlongs was 1:11.96, and SCF picked up $9,100 plus a breeder’s award, while the bettors cashed in to the tune of $16.80.

    Bahamian Squall is less than $52,000 from reaching $3 million in career progeny earnings.