Betting the Sam F. Davis on a $20 Budget
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Catalina Red rallied to win the Pasco Stakes on Dec. 27 at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photography)
The $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes takes center stage at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, and a full field of 12 3-year-olds was entered for the 1 1/16-mile, Grade 3 race.
The connections of many of the Sam F. Davis entrants are dreaming about the Kentucky Derby on May 2, and a strong showing in this race would go a long way in advancing some of these 3-year-olds toward that goal.
Popular trainers Kiaran McLaughlin and Todd Pletcher will be represented in this race, and Hall of Fame jockeys John Velazquez and Edgar Prado also have accepted riding assignments in the Sam F. Davis.
There are numerous contenders in the Sam F. Davis, and for that reason there are many different places your betting dollars may land in this race. Below are some of the horses I view as leading contenders in the Sam F. Davis:
#1 Catalina Red: This colt has already captured two victories at Tampa Bay Downs, including the Pasco Stakes last month, so we know he likes the racetrack. He has never finished worse than third in five career races.
#2 Royal Son: It’s hard to go wrong with trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez, who have won countless stakes races together over the years. This colt certainly has the breeding that should only make him better as the race distances increase, but it should be noted that Royal Son won his last race via disqualification and thus has never actually finished first in three starts.
#3 Ami’s Flatter: This colt won in his very first race back on Nov. 9 at Woodbine in Canada. Since then, Ami’s Flatter ran a very credible second in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park, which could signal that he is ready to challenge some of the better 3-year-olds of 2015.
#9 My Johnny Be Good: Antonio Gallardo is in absolute control of the jockey standings at Tampa Bay Downs, and he will be riding My Johnny Be Good in the Sam F. Davis. This colt took home a powerful victory in his most recent race, which came at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 28. My Johnny Be Good is another horse in this race who has never finished worse than third in his career.
#11 Ocean Knight: With only one race under his belt, this colt is the least experienced horse in the Sam F. Davis. However, Ocean Knight’s one career race was a very impressive victory at Aqueduct in New York, and he also has a first-class trainer (Kiaran McLaughlin) and jockey (Irad Ortiz Jr.) in his corner. Can Ocean Knight overcome a disadvantageous post position and his inexperience to seize the Sam F. Davis? We will know on Saturday.
Betting Strategy on a $20 Budget
$2 exacta box: 1,3,9 ($12)
$8 win on #1 Catalina Red ($8)
Total=$20
$250,000 Sam F. Davis S.Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday, Race 11, 5:20 p.m. ET1 1/16 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds
PP
Horse
Jockey
Weight
Trainer
1
Catalina Red
Daniel Centeno
118
Chad Stewart
2
Royal Son
John Velazquez
116
Todd Pletcher
3
Ami's Flatter
Luis Contreras
116
Josie Carroll
4
Crittenden
Fernando De La Cruz
116
Eoin Harty
5
Divining Rod
Luis Garcia
116
Arnaud Delacour
6
Bandages
Ronald Dale Allen Jr.
116
Chad Stewart
7
Brother Bobo
Gabriel Saez
116
Jason Servis
8
G Five
Rajiv Maragh
116
Todd Pletcher
9
My Johnny Be Good
Antonio Gallardo
116
Eoin Harty
10
Coomer
Julien Leparoux
116
Mike Maker
11
Ocean Knight
Irad Ortiz Jr.
116
Kiaran McLaughlin
12
Bears Personality
Edgar Prado
116
Reade Baker