The Triple Crown trail winds through Tampa this Saturday for the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The mile and one-sixteenth race offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points and also tests prospects with hopes of the 2024 Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Sam F. Davis Stakes (Race 10):
#1-EL PRINCIPITO: Yet to light the trifecta in 4 stakes attempts, this son of Breeder’s Cup Classic winner Accelerate has yet to come close on dirt, albeit in sprints.
#2-TIRELESS: Local maiden winner for Todd Pletcher makes his second trip across the state in 4 weeks. He lost his first 3 starts, twice as the favorite, disappointing his $875,000 purchase price. Not This Time colt could give Pletcher back-to-back wins in the Davis and the trainer’s record-padding eighth of his career.
#3-PATRIOT SPIRIT: Sprinted to victory in the 6-furlong Inaugural Stakes to open the Tampa Bay Downs season on December 2. Three published workouts on the ledger for this stretch-out to his first two-turn career bid. Sire Constitution won the Florida Derby and dam Mistical Plan won the Fair Grounds Oaks, so there’s plenty of sophomore route pedigree.
#4-CRAZY MASON: Rallied to win a local allowance prep as the 3-5 favorite, but worked hard to do so. That race was around two turns and this son of Coal Front got no pace help in that tune-up behind dawdling fractions. Rallying runner-up in the Inaugural Stakes behind return rival Patriot Spirit, but he benefits from that race in-between their Dec. 2 matchup.
#5-NO MORE TIME: Trainer Jose D’Angelo opted to scratch from last week’s tougher spot in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream and await this road trip for the Davis. Not This Time colt cost just $40,000 and was a second-out winner at Gulfstream in October. Middle-move in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes last time was ill-timed and he’ll get a jockey change to Paco Lopez.
#6-AGATE ROAD: Successful turf performer returns to the dirt for the first time since his August 5 debut at Saratoga was transferred to the main track due to weather. Todd Pletcher has won this race a record 7 times and curiously rerouted this horse to the Davis after stablemate Locked, who would have been favored here, was forced to miss the race with a reported fever. Agate Road had been entered and was among the favorites in last Saturday’s Kitten’s Joy Stakes on turf at Gulfstream before the change in plans. Should employ a late-running style and appreciate a fast pace if it evolves.
#7-COPPER TAX: Maryland-based trainer Gary Capuano brings this Laurel stakes winner south to see where he stacks up. Wire-to-wire winner around two turns at Delaware in a muddy rendition of the Rocky Run Stakes, but failed to keep pace over 9 furlongs vs. tougher in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. The form of the Remsen has held up well early in 2024 with Drum Roll Please returning to win the Jerome and Domestic Product returning to run second in last week’s Holy Bull.
#8-EVERDOIT: Locally based maiden winner in December stays home for this Triple Crown prep after a tiring sixth on the road at Gulfstream in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. He’ll likely be part of the early pace at longshot odds.
#9-CHANGE OF COMMAND: Stakes debut for this well-seasoned Shug McGaughey trainee, who has won maiden and allowance races in back-to-back starts at Gulfstream Park after a trio of improving tries in New York as a juvenile. $1 million yearling purchase by Into Mischief will race with blinkers on for the first time in the Davis. He’s been in early contention in each start and expected to be again under new pilot Tyler Gaffalione, who takes over for Jose Ortiz – who jumps seats to ride Agate Road on Saturday.
#10-WEST SARATOGA: 12-1 upset winner of Churchill Downs’ Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes hasn’t won in 5 starts away from Louisville. No match second in the Pasco Stakes over 7 furlongs last month on this track behind sharp sprinter Bookem Danno. Bargain $11,000 buy sired by Preakness winner Exaggerator has banked more than $300,000 to date.
#11-FULMINEO: Rallied behind Agate Road in last year’s Grade 2 Pilgrim over the Aqueduct turf, but trainer Arnaud Delacour prepped him on the local dirt last out in allowance company. Game second in that local spin to Davis repeat rival Crazy Mason. Look for him to drop back early from an outside post and hope to make a late run under Daniel Centeno.
#12-ELYSIAN MEADOWS: Unbeaten colt steps out of the New York-bred ranks for the first time and has the unenviable task of starting from the far outside post. Trainer Bill Mott’s strong cast of 3-year-olds includes this son of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner City of Light. First route attempt from this post adds an extra layer of obstacle that jockey Junior Alvarado must overcome.
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