Tampa Bay Downs has a trio of stakes on tap today as part of a 12-race Festival Preview Day program presented by Ocala-based Lambholm South. The feature on the card is the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3). The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds received grade 3 status for the first-time in 2009, the year in which Stonewall Farm Ocala stallion General Quarters won in a stakes record time of 1:43.54. The Sam F. Davis is the local prep for the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 10.
Also on the card is the $150,000 Endeavour Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16-mile on the turf and the $150,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16-mile on the turf. Today’s festivities also include an appearance by Steve Cauthen, Hall of Fame jockey who rode Florida-bred Affirmed to his 1978 Triple Crown triumph. Cauthen will sign autographs from 1 – 3 p.m.
The Sam F. Davis drew a field of 11 including four stakes winners lead by Reveron, the 3-1 morning line favorite. The son of former Hartley/De Renzo stallion Songandaprayer won the Gulfstream Park Derby on News Years Day to start off the year. The Agustin Bezara trainee has three wins in five starts and Fernando Jara travels from Miami for the return assignment.
Local stakes winner Prospective from the always dangerous Mark Casse barn is listed at 6-1 on the morning line. The John Oxley colorbearer annexed the Pasco Stakes on Jan. 14 after a disappointing effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. The son of Malibu Moon breaks from post position 11 with Luis Contreras aboard.
Team Valor’s State of Play has been training at the Oldsmar oval since the beginning of the year. The son of War Front won his first two starts including the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga last September. Trainer Graham Motion switches him to the dirt off a 12th place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Motion’s assistant trainer Heather Craig said, “Tampa Bay Downs is not an easy track to handle, but he has been training great and had handled the dirt better then we could have imagined.”
Harold Queen’s Florida-bred Burning Time enters the Sam Davis off a troubled trip in the Pasco. The son of Stonewall Farm stallion Burning Roma made a quick middle move in the race and finished fourth beaten 3 ¼ lengths. Burning Roma won the Foolish Pleasure Stakes at Calder as a juvenile. The horses with a race over the track could be at an advantage. Burning Time breaks from post position 9 and is 12-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are Holy Highway, Florida-bred Battle Hardened, Ecabroni, Florida-bred Moroccan Brew, Neck ‘n Neck, Fox Rules and Ravelo’s Boy.
The 10-horse Endeavour field is lead by Zagora (FR), who won the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1) last July at Saratoga. She finished third in the Grade 3 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs last season. The daughter of Green Tune was a multiple group 3 winner in her native France. Owned by Martin Schwartz and trained by Chad Brown, Zagora will be ridden by Javier Castellano and is 2-1 on the morning line.
Grade 3 stakes winner Jenny’s So Great looks to have the best chance of the local contingent. The daughter of Stonewall Farm Ocala stallion Greatness won the Lightning City Stakes on opening day. Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. will be back aboard for trainer Jason Servis. Jenny’s So Great breaks from post position 5 and is 6-1 on the morning line.
Trainer Tom Proctor brings multiple grade 3 winner Keertana back off an eight month layoff. The daughter of Johar beat the boys in the Louisville Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 28. She is a winner over the turf course and is reunited with former leading jockey Jose Lezcano. Keertana breaks from post position 10 and is 5-2 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are Dundalk Dust, Florida-bred Blue Angel Express, Martita Sangrita, Exclusive Love, Crying Lightening (IRE), Abuela and Master Shade (ITY).
The 2012 renewal of the Florida Oaks will be the second-time the race has been run over the turf course. A pair of Grade 3 stakes winners headline the eight-horse field. The John Terranova II trained More Than Love is the 2-1 morning line favorite. The daughter of More Than Ready is 2-for-3 lifetime, including the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes at Hollywood. Javier Castellano will be aboard for the first-time today.
The Mark Casse trained Northern Passion is second choice on the morning line at 5-2. The daughter of First Samurai won the Grade 3 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 17. Regular rider Luis Contreras will be in the irons. She will run as an entry with stakes winner Dixie Strike.
Rounding out the field are Spielzeit, Sisterhood, Customer Base, Shezmyten and Florida-bred Regalo Mia.
The Florida Oaks is scheduled as the sixth race on the card. The Endeavour goes as race 10 and the Sam F. Davis as race 11.
Photo by Coglianese
