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Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs - $250,000 (G3)

Dave Bond

Las Vegas, NV -- The 32nd running of the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes comes our way as part of a stacked card at Tampa Bay Downs this Saturday, February 4th. A purse of $250,000 is on the line for three year olds looking to ramp up for potential Triple Crown entries later on this year. The race will be contested over 1 1/16 miles on Tampa Bay's main dirt track and is the 11th race on the Saturday schedule with a post time of 5:10PM EST.

The Sam F. Davis Stakes is the first stop on Tampa Bay's Derby Trail. A good showing on Saturday will most certainly result in a start later on this year in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 10th. 11 horses will take to the track with no absolute favorite dominating the early headlines.

Here is a list of all the entries for Saturday's race and how each has done leading up to the Sam F. Davis Stakes.

Watch and bet the Sam F Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs live with Off Track Betting

The Favorites:

Reveron - Reveron has won three straight races - the last being the Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year's Day. Reveron is unbeaten at 1 1/16 miles so far and has placed in all five career starts.

Prospective - Prospective has three wins in five career starts, the last being the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on January 14th. A disappointing 13th place in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile has taken some luster off Prospective but this three-year-old has never lost at Tampa Bay Downs.

State Of Play - was 12th last time out at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile but holds two wins in the other two starts including the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga.

Ecabroni - Ecabroni has two career starts - one win and one second place finish. What make Ecabroni a favourite in this event in trainer Todd Pletcher whose horses have won two of the last four Sam F. Davis Stakes. Also, jockey Javier Castellano who recorded a win in the Holy Bull Stakes last week will be in the saddle.

The Others:

Holy Highway - three careers starts with two wins (Allowance optional Claiming and Maiden Claiming - both at Tampa Bay Downs). Both wins came on Turf and over 1 1/16 miles.

Burning Time - Burning Time could be a pleasant surprise despite average career numbers. Burning Time was a pleasant fourth place last time out in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Battle Hardened - has yet to win a race in three career starts but has a pair of seconds in Maiden Special Weight races.

Moroccan Brew - 6th in the Pasco Stakes last time out but won a Maiden Special Weight at Delaware Park on November 2nd.

Neck 'n Neck - five career starts with just one win (Maiden Special Weight at Churchill Downs on November 26th) and one second place finish (Allowance Optional Claiming on January 7th).

Fox Rules - five starts - one win. Recently finished 10th in the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont on October 22nd and 6th in the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont on October 2nd.

Ravelo's Boy - 11 career starts - two wins, two third place finishes. Most recently finished 5th in the Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year's Day and first in an Allowance Optional Claiming on December 3rd at Gulfstream.

The Sam F. Davis Stakes is Race 11 at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday - Post Time of 5:10 PM ET.

Post

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

ML Odds

1

State of Play

A. Garcia

H. Motion

4-1

2

Holy Highway

A. Serpa

D. Ryan

20-1

3

Battle Hardened

J. Leparoux

E. Kenneally

12-1

4

Ecabroni

J. Castellano

T. Pletcher

7-2

5

Moroccan Brew

R. Feliciano

D. Ward

30-1

6

Neck 'n Neck

J. Lezcano

I. Wilkes

5-1

7

Fox Rules

H. Villa-Gomez

M. Ferraro

30-1

8

Ravelo's Boy

J. Sanchez

M. Azpurua

15-1

9

Burning Time

L. Goncalves

D. Fawkes

12-1

10

Reveron

F. Jara

A. Bezara

3-1

11

Prospective

L. Contreras

M. Casse

6-1

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