Stonestreet’s Ocean Knight Scores in Sam F. Davis

Ocean Knight (outside) outfinished Divining Rod to win the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photography)
Ocean Knight was asked to handle a test in class in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, and the bay colt by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin proved up to the challenge.
After tracking the pace from fourth early, Ocean Knight advanced on game pacesetter Divining Rod approaching the stretch.
Divining Rod battled bravely when challenged but Ocean Knight edged past inside the final sixteenth of a mile to prevail by a neck under Irad Ortiz Jr.
The winning time of 1:43.74 for 1 1/16 miles was just a fifth of a second off the Sam F. Davis Stakes record of 1:43.54 set by General Quarters in 2009.
My Johnny Be Good was five lengths behind Divining Rod in third with Ami’s Flatter checking in fourth in the $201,500 Sam F. Davis.
Ocean Knight entered the Sam F. Davis off a dominant debut victory on Dec. 13 at Aqueduct, where he closed with a sweeping rally, drew clear and coasted to a win by 4 ¼ lengths.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for owner Stonestreet Stables, Ocean Knight banked $120,000 for the win, which was his second in as many starts. He paid $5.20 to win as the 8-to-5 favorite.
Stonestreet purchased Ocean Knight for $320,000 at the 2014 OBS March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training from de Meric Sales, agent. Ocean Knight is out of the winning Stormy Atlantic mare Ocean Goddess.
Stonestreet, founded by the late Jess Jackson, also raced Ocean Knight’s sire, Curlin, and 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Jackson’s wife, Barbara Banke, has continued to grow the Stonestreet legacy since Jackson’s death on April 21, 2011.
An interesting visual through the stretch drive was the Lael Stables silks, which Barbaro carried to a Kentucky Derby victory in 2006, on Divining Rod and Ocean Knight’s Stonestreet silks, which Curlin helped make famous and Rachel Alexandra carried to Preakness glory, matched up in a Derby prep stretch duel.
The Sam F. Davis Stakes serves as the top local prep race for the $350,000, Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
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OCEAN KNIGHT AND JOCKEY IRAD ORTIZ JR. RETURN TO THE WINNER'S CIRCLE

Photo by SV Photography