Meet the Contenders: 2024 Sam F. Davis Stakes
Tampa Bay Downs Scenic (SV Photography)
February 8th, 2024
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Sam F. Davis S at Tampa Bay Downs. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Tampa Bay Downs Scenic (SV Photography)
#1 El Principito *
Pro: Perhaps a return to routing will ignite a wake-up.
Con: Well-beaten in five starts since debut victory.
Tampa Bay Downs Scenic (SV Photography)
#2 Tireless **
Pro: Barn has won this race a record seven times; graduated over this surface.
Con: Must improve a bit stepping up from the maiden ranks.
Patriot Spirit (Photo by SV Photography)
#3 Patriot Spirit **
Pro: Enters off local sprint stakes win, albeit against soft group as odds-on choice.
Con: Limited experience beyond seven furlongs and not Triple Crown nominated yet.
#9 Patriot Spirit cruises home to break his maiden in R4 at Colonial Downs under Jesus Castanon for trainer Michael Campbell! 🇺🇸
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 25, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/F2W7NOi65y
Crazy Mason (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#4 Crazy Mason ***
Pro: Dual stakes-placed colt overcame pedestrian pace to win allowance prep here.
Con: Collateral form suggests a couple others might have an edge over him.
#3 Crazy Mason gets blinkers and romps in R5 at Saratoga for trainer Gregory Sacco with Jose Lezcano up! 🏇
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) July 20, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/PnJRk1ss5x
No More Time wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianes Photography / Credit to Ryan Thompson)
#5 No More Time ***
Pro: Barn winning at a 27% clip this meet; solid works of late.
Con: Off slow and failed to settle in stakes debut at Gulfstream.
Agate Road (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#6 Agate Road ****
Pro: Established relative class on turf but did narrowly miss over dirt on debut.
Con: Basically, a substitute for stablemate Locked, who’d look stronger here.
#9 Agate Road gets his first stakes victory in the G2 Pilgram S. at Belmont for trainer Todd Plecher with @iradortiz aboard! 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 4, 2023
Next stop: @breederscup!
✈️@repolestable
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ekI1r6jynF
Copper Tax (Photo by Hoofprints Inc.)
#7 Copper Tax ***
Pro: Track profile worked against this dual stakes winner in hot renewal of Remsen (G2).
Con: Might prove more capable around one turn.
Tampa Bay Downs Scenic (SV Photography)
#8 Everdoit *
Pro: Surprise maiden winner over this track at a slightly shorter distance.
Con: Class questions after burning out in Mucho Macho Man.
Tampa Bay Downs Scenic (SV Photography)
#9 Change of Command ***
Pro: Adds blinkers and enters on two-race win streak, including Gulfstream allowance.
Con: Has other speed to contend with and might be overbet here.
West Saratoga (Photo by Coady Photography)
#10 West Saratoga ***
Pro: The only Derby prep winner in the field, having won the Iroquois (G3).
Con: Distant second in Pasco S., earning modest 74 speed rating.
WEST SARATOGA holds on to win the Iroquois at 12-1! 🔥
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) September 16, 2023
We are off and running on the Road to the 150th @KentuckyDerby 🏆
🎥 @TwinSpires
pic.twitter.com/pt5T5ZbqIw
Tampa Bay Downs Scenic (SV Photography)
#11 Fulmineo ****
Pro: Has shown a bit of class on grass but local dirt prep was fine, too.
Con: Finished behind Agate Road in two prior meetings.
Elysian Meadows (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#12 Elysian Meadows ***
Pro: Earned a pair of stalk-and-pounce wins to kick off his career.
Con: Outside draw is a concern and colt hasn’t yet faced open company.
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