TAMPA BAY, Florida, CMC

Jamaican trainer Kirk Ziadie returned to the headlines in Florida horse racing Saturday with three wins at Tampa Bay Downs.

Ziadie has been relatively quiet since taking the Calder Meet title two months ago but burst onto the scene at the new Tampa Bay meet this weekend, discharging three winners on the card.

He is now joint leader at the week-old meet - on four wins with Lynne Scace.

The successful Ziadie, who repeated as Calder champion in mid-October to add to the last two Tropical at Calder (October-January) titles he had won in 2006 and 2007, is also a former Tampa champion.

He got his first win Saturday with the 3-5 favourite Mauvais' Coyote in the US$7,000 first race over six furlongs.

Ridden by Rosemary Homeister, Mauvais' Coyote grabbed the lead in the upper-stretch and fought off the 12-1 bet Hands Wavering to win by a nose in one minute 13.08 seconds.

Ziadie then took the US$17,000 third race over six furlongs with another favourite Southern Scoundrel (2-1) under jockey Paco Lopez.

Southern Scoundrel was roused to lead entering the homestretch and won by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:11.14.

Ziadie completed his triple in the 10th race with the 3-1 second favourite Baron Von Tap.