Sam F. Davis Stakes

Date: January 31, 15
Post:
Purse: $250,000
Grade: III
Type: Thoroughbred
Distance: 1 1/16 Miles
Age: 3 Year Olds
Sex: Both
Turf: Dirt

Notes
Despite being stripped of its status as a Kentucky Derby qualifying points race when the Churchill Downs’ owned Calder Racecourse was engaged in a battle over simulcast signals with Tampa Bay Downs, the Sam F. Davis remains a significant prep on the road to Louisville. Two-time Tampa stakes winner Catalina Red headlines this field of 12 and has never been off the board in six races. The son of Munnings will be trying to stretch out beyond 7 ½F for the first time and his stalking style should be an asset in that regard. Royal Son has finished second in all three of his starts but was elevated to the top spot in a 1m Gulfstream Park contest via disqualification. Regular pilot John Velasquez ships in with him from South Florida. Ami’s Flatter comes into this off a nice runner-up effort in the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park. The winner of that, Bluegrass Singer, returned to complete the trifecta in the G3 Holy Bull S. there last weekend. Crittenden couldn’t hit the board on synthetic or dirt but has won two straight over the Tampa turf course. He’ll get another try on the main track and has worked well on this surface. Divining Rod broke his maiden at first asking on dirt then ran third behind Crittenden on the grass. The Lael Stables color-bearer gets first-time Lasix for his stakes debut. Bandages has two solid 6F races on this oval, including a victory on Dec. 27. Brother Bobo was up the track in the Mucho Macho Man but missed by only a neck before that in the Buffalo Man S. at Gulfstream Park West. G Five’s initial win came at the MC 25000 level but he’s had a victory and two show finishes in optional claiming races after that. Rajiv Maragh will be aboard the Flashy Bull colt for the first time. My Johnny Be Good romped by 14 lengths in a 6F OC 75000n1x here on Dec. 28 and has a second-place finish at this distance at Keeneland. Coomer was claimed for a $50k tag out of his fifth-place debut then came back to win easily at the same level for the potent trainer-owner combo of Mike Maker and the Ramseys. Ocean Knight was a sharp debut winner at Aqueduct for a barn whose youngsters typically improve in their second starts. The son of Curlin smoked the 4F bullet at Palm Meadows on Jan. 23 in preparation for his return. Bears Personality needed four tries to get his picture taken but did so at 1 1/16m and backed that up with an allowance score at the same distance. He’ll be making his first start away from Woodbine’s synthetic main track.