A robust and intriguing field of 11 was announced for Saturday’s Sam F.
Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. While
Reveron, winner of the Gulfstream Park Derby, was installed as the favorite at
3-1 odds the race offers many other angles. If you like horses that have shown an affinity for the
surface, you have to like Prospective who won the Pasco Stakes just three weeks
ago. If class is your angle, you
could like State of Play who is a Grade 2 winner, albeit on turf at Saratoga
back in September. Ecabroni is a
recent maiden breaker at the tough Gulfstream circuit whom many feel has a lot
of upside based on his connection to red-hot trainer Todd Pletcher. The full field with PPs, race replays
and more can be viewed here
// Entries were also drawn today for the WEBN stakes at Turfway, which is a
logical prep for the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (G3)// In a rather big
adjustment, The Daily Racing Form has revised Algorithms’s Beyer Speed Figure
from Saturday’s Holy Bull to a 105.
That’s a 7-point increase from the preliminary number, and now gives him
the highest figure in his class// Rick Dutrow’s King and Crusader could be
headed to the Gotham Stakes (G3).
The colt is perhaps best known for being disqualified from a stakes in
Maryland due to receiving lasix too close to post time. Weeks later he won two races in four
days, a rigorous schedule that is unheard of these days for promising
3-year-olds// Perhaps the most talked about Derby-related news of the day was
the release of the Experimental Free Handicap weight assignments. The objective for the Jockey Club panel
is to assign weights to the best 2-year-olds of the previous year as if they
were going to run a 1 1/6 miles race.
Hansen and Union Rags were the high weights tied at 126 pounds. Some Kentucky Derby handicappers eagerly
await the assigned weights in order to figure “dual qualifiers” or those that
are both within 10 pounds of the high weight and also have a dosage index
(pedigree indicator) less than 4.00.
Dual qualifiers at one time ruled the Triple Crown races, but due to
numerous factors, including the recent trend of light 2-year-old seasoning,
only 3 of the last 15 Kentucky Derby winners were dual qualifiers. This year there are 13 dual qualifiers
and they are listed in the article below (Drill is omitted from the list,
perhaps because the author believes he is no longer pointed to the Derby)…
Upcoming Graded Stakes
Withers S. (G3), Robert B. Lewis S. (G2), & Sam F. Davis (G3) race page here. Includes PPs, articles, picks, and race replays for all entries.
Withers S. (G3), Robert B. Lewis S. (G2), & Sam F. Davis (G3) race page here. Includes PPs, articles, picks, and race replays for all entries.
Articles
Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3): DRF
/ Bloodhorse
/ Brisnet
/ TTimes
Fat
or fit? Opinions may vary [State of Play] (Downey Profile)
Trainer
Casse eager to get going (Toronto Sun)
Baffert
holds the aces in Robert B. Lewis (Sports Network)
I’ll
Have Another a wildcard in Lewis Stakes (Bloodhorse)
Exfactor
works good half mile at Fair Grounds (Bloodhorse)
Kentucky
Derby Report (Brisnet)
Picks
Robert Lewis: Commish’s
Picks-The Downey Profile / Bloodhorse
THS
Works
Team Six- FH- 5F-
1.02:00- B- 1/2
Exfactor- FG- 4F- 49:20-
B- 8/20
Right to Vote- 3F- 35:60-
B- 1/6
Drill- SA- 4F- 49:20- H- 16/28
