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Sam F. Davis: Z Humor looks to grind another one out

posted by Joel Cunningham on February 16, 2008 Tags: , , , , , ,

The class of Saturday's $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs is undoubtedly the Bill Mott-trained Z Humor, who was last seen in December dead-heating for the win in the lucrative $1 million Delta Jackpot (G3).

The regally-bred son of Distorted Humor out of an A.P. Indy mare will be the deserving favorite when they line up in the 9-horse Sam Davis for his 3-year-old debut, and top rider Garrett Gomez sees it fit to fly in from California to pilot Z Humor.

Gomez likely appreciates the colt's honesty, as he's been on the board in 4-of-5 starts with two wins. Z Humor's lone off-the-board showing came in the form of a fifth-place finish in the sloppy renewal of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), where he was returning on three weeks rest off a hard-fought third-place effort in the Champagne (G1). It was also noted that Z Humor was not training particularly well prior to the Breeders' Cup, yet he still managed to finish respectably.

Every crop of 3-year-olds seems to have that honest performer that displays class but lacks the flashy move in a race that becomes the horse's signature or trademark. These horses get labeled as grinders.

Z Humor looks like the grinder of the class of 2008.

In watching his last few races, it is easy to see that Z Humor is a trier and gives an honest account of himself every time he lines up in the gate. It's also easy to see he lacks any sort of burst, and his win in the Delta Jackpot was a good example of that.

Z Humor was always forwardly placed in that race while loping along at a steady clip. As they went deep into the backstretch, Gomez began pumping and riding vigorously on Z Humor, who ran about as fast heading into the far turn as he did when crossing the wire. Under a long drive, Z Humor steadily ground out a dead-heat win to earn $400,000 in graded earnings and sew up a spot in the gate for this year's Kentucky Derby.

The fact he's already eligible to make the Derby field likely went a long way in the decision to run Z Humor in the ungraded Sam Davis, where he has the luxury of taking an easier path to the Derby after that tough juvenile campaign now that graded earnings are not an issue.

This year's Sam Davis appears to be loaded with plenty of pace potential. A fresh Wise Answer, who should be Z Humor's biggest challenger Saturday, should be gunning from the rail, along with longshot Celtic Meal from the 2-hole. Smooth Air, winner of the Hutcheson (G2), is stretching out for the first time and figures to be on or close to the lead through slower two-turn fractions, as does local stakes winner Honey Honey Honey, who does his best running when in the thick of it early.

I expect Gomez to tuck in and take back from post No. 8 behind that likely strong pace, while keeping Z Humor in the clear and out of trouble on the outside. Grinders can tend to find trouble and lack the tactics to get out of it, but with clear sailing on the outside, look for Z Humor to exude his class and slowly wear down this field.

Tampa can be a tricky track, but as long as Z Humor is not too far back early - which he shouldn't be - this colt should be honest enough to get the job done on the slight drop in class.

But don't expect a big, flashy win because you won't get it. Z Humor will try to win his way, and it will be close if he wins. It's certainly not impossible to see colts like Wise Answer or Fierce Wind finishing on top in here. But most will be watching the grinder, and he'll likely be right there grinding away at the finish – whether it be a win or not.

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battfist

02/16/2008 12:20 am

The class horse at Tampa Bay is racing in the Endeavour...the gritty Dreaming of Anna (solid field).
Nothing against Z Humor...

choppedliver21

02/16/2008 4:04 am

I also wish seattle slew was in the race but hes not. I believe Z homor will win this race. But it will be a battle.

joel

02/16/2008 9:28 am

The Endeavor turned up a good G3 for turf fillies and mares this early in the season... 'Anna' is not the only premier name in the race, as Lear's Princess could prove to be one of the best fillies in training in North America this year...

I'm driving over to Tampa Bay Downs shortly for the day and the Endeavor is one of the races I'm excited to see.

battfist

02/16/2008 8:26 pm

Joel...
How was Tampa?

joel

02/17/2008 8:36 am

Great day of racing.

Good crowd and the weather could not have been more perfect, as it was around 80 and sunny... perfect.

Paddock report:

Lear's Princess was hot and a tad washy before the race but looked great... she was a tad fresh early and Eibar really had to wrestle her back off the slow pace - which was the main contributor to Dreaming of Anna hanging on and winning the race in the end IMO.

I think Lear's Princess has a huge 2008 in front of her on what ever surface they opt to run her on, but I do believe she'll prove to be more productive on the dirt.

In the Sam Davis, Big Truck looked the best to me in the paddock, but I wasn't overly impressed or unimpressed with the entire group.

Z Humor tried hard but spun his wheels over that beachy track like many do.

In the end, Zito's colt ran huge to win over a track many horses just cannot handle, especially in their first start over it, but I doubt that race produces the winner of the Tampa Bay Derby next month.

Albertrani's A.P. Indy filly, Vaulcluse, was impressive in the Suncoast. There sure wasn't much to her physically when viewing her in the paddock and she was washy like many of them in the hot sun - but her performance was a good one. She was parked out widest of all down the backstretch before proving best and looking like she wants every bit of the Kentucky Oaks distance of 1 1/8 miles. I thought it was a big race in the Oaks picture.

Graham Motion's Maria's Mon filly looked the best in the paddock and ran 3rd. McPeek''s filly ran well but the winner stood out.

mike barker

02/18/2008 10:43 am

Today is the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn for 3 yr olds going a mile ....I know Turf War will be hard to beat but im gonna try since oaklawns stretch is so small and Calvin Borel will try to be a hero again...Im betting SILVER EDITION 8-1 across the board he ran a good 2nd in the Hutcheson then came back to run a dissapointing 4th in the Swale...This horse bounces every other race also, hopefully he can get there at a price :)

Garndtz

02/18/2008 11:25 am

What about Dennis of Cork in the Southwest. 2 for 2 and looked pretty good both times out. Did Borel opt off of him, or do you think Albarado pushed Borel off??

beebs4201

02/18/2008 12:14 pm

Borel opted off of Denis of Cork because Turf War already has the graded earnings to get into the derby. Denis of Cork probably has more potential but Borel went with the safe bet to make it to the derby starting gate.

joel

02/18/2008 1:20 pm

I believe Denis of Cork is the best horse in the race, but I'm not necessarily sure that will translate into a win today.

He was reportedly knocked out after his big debut win at CD and the move to New Orleans, and it took him some time to get his feet back under him. I thought his allowance win was better than the speed figures gave him credit for with everything considered.

I think Borel likely chose the mount aboard Turf War since he's already eligible for the Derby field on graded earnings and has the right style... just guessing. Borel also has the mount for Carroll aboard Blackberry Road, so they probably knew that Borel would be broken up from one of the two Carroll runners eventually anyway. Maybe Carroll wanted Albarado for the reasons... Robby has no real "live" Derby mounts at this time and he can work Denis of Cork in the mornings at his winter base of Fair Grounds, so he was an obvious choice.

mike barker

02/18/2008 3:51 pm

I hope Robbys not on anyone i like thus year!!

Garndtz

02/19/2008 9:09 am

$20 to win on Dennis = WooHoo!

mike barker

02/19/2008 10:36 am

Did Sacred Journey think that race was 5 furlongs?

mike barker

02/19/2008 12:46 pm

Horse name Tomcito
Notes derby trail
Activity type Workout
Activity date 02-19-2008
Track Palm Meadows
Surface Dirt
Distance 4 Furlongs
Workout type Handily
Workout time 0:46.00
Track condition Fast

joel

02/19/2008 1:05 pm

Nice double-digit payoffs on Denis!

Mike - I thought Sacred Journey actually held well despite clearly running off with the rider in what would normally doom a horse, especially in his two-turn debut.

I think speed was holding well at Oaklawn though even through the quick fractions... makes Denis of Cork's win better in my eyes... he recieved a 96 Beyer Speed Figure, which is plenty impressive for his 3rd start at his 3rd different racetrack if you believe in that speed figure...

I never was a big believer in Turf War, but the way most of the deep closers flattened out and lacked a late punch despite that wicked opening half-mile in :45 1/5 seconds leads one to believe the track was playing to speed.