Study Guide: 2024 Sam F. Davis Stakes

Feb 08, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Although the $250,000 Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs has yet to produce a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, it’s churned out 26 Kentucky Derby starters in the last two decades, including at least one in 16 out of those 20 years.

There are some promising names entered in the 2024 Sam F. Davis, which awards Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis. Let’s meet the dozen horses entered in this 1 1/16-mile contest:

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El Principito

Start(s): 6

Wins: 1

Place: 0

Show: 0

 

Owner: Michael V. Laurato

Breeder: Southwind Stables

Trainer: Michael V. Laurato

Jockey: Gabriel Maldonado

 

Top Speed Rating: (82) when finishing seventh in the Inaugural S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

Total Earnings: $25,025

 

Sire: Accelerate

Dam: Roxie Fast Moon

Color: Chestnut

El Principito won his debut sprinting in gate-to-wire fashion, but has since finished out of the top three in five straight races, including four stakes. He’ll need improvement to factor on Saturday.

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Tireless

Start(s): 4

Wins: 1

Place: 2

Show: 0

 

Owner: St. Elias Stable, Repole Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods

Breeder: LNJ Foxwoods

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Antonio Gallardo

 

Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing second in a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.

Total Earnings: $76,013

 

Sire: Not This Time

Dam: Kitty Union

Color: Dark bay/brown

After finishing second, fifth, and second in his first three starts against quality competition, Tireless rallied to win a one-mile and 40-yeard maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs. His career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating is a little light, but Tireless is progressing in the right direction and can’t be counted out of the mix for a top-five finish.

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Patriot Spirit

Start(s): 4

Wins: 2

Place: 0

Show: 0

 

Owner: Mellon Patch

Breeder: Blue Heaven Farm

Trainer: Michael Campbell

Jockey: Samy Camacho

 

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Inaugural S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

Total Earnings: $78,500

 

Sire: Constitution

Dam: Mistical Plan

Color: Bay

Patriot Spirit threw down a flashy 93 Brisnet Speed rating when winning the six-furlong Inaugural S. at Tampa two months ago, but he tired to finish sixth in his lone route race to date, which was the one-mile Iroquois (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Patriot Spirit set a blazing pace that day and may fare better in his second route try, but there’s at least a possibility this speedy son of Constitution is best as a sprinter.

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Crazy Mason

Start(s): 6

Wins: 2

Place: 2

Show: 1

 

Owner: Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing

Breeder: Gmbracstables, Mr. and Mrs. Ramon Rangel, and Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Madden

Trainer: Gregory Sacco

Jockey: Mychel Sanchez

 

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in the Inaugural S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

Total Earnings: $100,150

 

Sire: Coal Front

Dam: Izshelegal

Color: Gray/roan

Inaugural runner-up Crazy Mason finished 1 3/4 lengths behind Patriot Spirit, then stretched out to win a $75,000 allowance optional claimer racing one mile and 40 yards at Tampa. However, that race unfolded at an incredibly slow pace, and Crazy Mason faded in his two previous route races. It remains to be seen whether Crazy Mason can shine in a fast-paced route.

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No More Time

Start(s): 3

Wins: 1

Place: 1

Show: 0

 

Owner: Morplay Racing

Breeder: MAMAS Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Jose D’Angelo

Jockey: Paco Lopez

 

Top Speed Rating: (92) when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park.

Total Earnings: $36,780

 

Sire: Not This Time

Dam: Baroness Juliette

Color: Dark bay/brown

No More Time unleashed a nice middle move before flattening out to finish fifth in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park. He’d previously dominated a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream by 6 3/4 lengths, so we know No More Time has talent, but the Sam F. Davis is shaping up as a tougher spot than the Mucho Macho Man.

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Agate Road

Start(s): 5

Wins: 2

Place: 2

Show: 0

 

Owner: St. Elias Stable and Repole Stable

Breeder: CHC

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

 

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.

Total Earnings: $243,500

 

Sire: Quality Road

Dam: Yellow Agate

Color: Bay

Agate Road was compromised by a slow early/fast late race shape when finishing second in the Dania Beach S. over the Gulfstream turf course last month. Last year, his grass exploits included a win in the Pilgrim (G2) and a good fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Agate Road also finished second by a nose in a one-mile maiden special weight on dirt at Saratoga, so switching surfaces for the Sam F. Davis shouldn’t be a big concern. Agate Road looks like a formidable win threat for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won the Davis seven times.

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Copper Tax

Start(s): 7

Wins: 5

Place: 1

Show: 0

 

Owner: Rose Petal Stables

Breeder: Lance Sullenberger

Trainer: Gary Capuano

Jockey: Charlie Marquez

 

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the James F. Lewis III S. at Laurel Park.

Total Earnings: $251,500

 

Sire: Copper Bullet

Dam: Wilhelmina

Color: Bay

Copper Tax has won five of his seven starts, but four of those wins have come in sprints. When he stepped up in class and distance for the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, he finished sixth by a wide margin. He was compromised by a speed-favoring track that day and may perform better if he encounters a fair track in the Sam F. Davis, but the son of Copper Bullet is bred for speed and may ultimately prove to be best as a sprinter.

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Everdoit

Start(s): 4

Wins: 1

Place: 1

Show: 0

 

Owner: Donald L. Ming

Breeder: Don Ming

Trainer: Kevin Rice

Jockey: Huber Villa-Gomez

 

Top Speed Rating: (81) when breaking his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs.

Total Earnings: $46,750

 

Sire: Gary D

Dam: Jaggermama

Color: Gray/roan

Everdoit broke his maiden racing one mile and 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs, but that victory yielded a modest 81 Brisnet Speed rating. He’ll need to improve off his sixth-place finish in last month’s Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park if he’s going to challenge in the Sam F. Davis.

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Change of Command

Start(s): 5

Wins: 2

Place: 1

Show: 1

 

Owner: Courtlandt Farms

Breeder: OXO Equine

Trainer: Shug McGaughey

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

 

Top Speed Rating: (92) when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park.

Total Earnings: $113,300

 

Sire: Into Mischief

Dam: Moi

Color: Bay

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has been on fire at Tampa Bay Downs, going 7-for-14 (50%) since December, and Change of Command is a logical threat to win the Sam F. Davis. He enters off back-to-back maiden and allowance optional claiming wins at Gulfstream Park and brings promising Brisnet Speed ratings to the table. If Change of Command improves at all while adding blinkers, he’ll be right in the hunt for victory.

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West Saratoga

Start(s): 8

Wins: 2

Place: 4

Show: 0

 

Owner: Harry L. Veruchi

Breeder: Two Hearts Farm II

Trainer: Larry Demeritte

Jockey: Jesus Castanon

 

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Total Earnings: $304,140

 

Sire: Exaggerator

Dam: Mo Wicked

Color: Gray/roan

One of the most accomplished Sam F. Davis entrants is West Saratoga, a rallying winner of the one-mile Iroquois on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He beat Patriot Spirit on that occasion and recently kicked off his three-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish in the seven-furlong Pasco S. at Tampa, but it’s worth noting West Saratoga faltered in his only two-turn race to date, finishing fifth in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity (G1). Returning to a two-turn configuration on Saturday is an obstacle for West Saratoga to overcome.

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Fulmineo

Start(s): 5

Wins: 1

Place: 2

Show: 1

 

Owner: Starlight Racing and Mark B. Grier

Breeder: Country Life Farm and Starr of Quality

Trainer: Arnaud Delacour

Jockey: Daniel Centeno

 

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.

Total Earnings: $87,005

 

Sire: Bolt d’Oro

Dam: Starr of Quality

Color: Bay

Fulmineo rallied to finish second behind Agate Road in the Pilgrim last fall, after which he ran 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He switched to dirt to kick off 2024, finishing second to Crazy Mason in a Tampa allowance optional claimer. Fulmineo has run well against quality competition, but his career-best 86 Brisnet Speed rating looks light, and he’ll need a step forward to turn the tables on Agate Road and Crazy Mason.

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Elysian Meadows

Start(s): 2

Wins: 2

Place: 0

Show: 0

 

Owner: Team Penney Racing

Breeder: Moni Market Breeders and M & M Equine

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

 

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning an Aqueduct allowance optional claimer.

Total Earnings: $79,750

 

Sire: City of Light

Dam: Heavenly Thought

Color: Bay

Elysian Meadows is 2-for-2 sprinting against New York-breds at Aqueduct, opening his career with triumphs in a maiden special weight and an $80,000 allowance optional claimer. In both of those races, Elysian Meadows beat horses who returned to win their next starts. Elysian Meadows is stepping up sharply in class and distance for the Sam F. Davis and needs improvement from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, but perhaps stretching out around two turns can trigger the step forward he needs.