Tipsheet: 2022 Sam F. Davis Stakes

An overflow field of 13 three-year-olds will go postward in Saturday’s $250,000 Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. The 1 1/16-mile test is a 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event, with the first four finishers earning points on a 10-4-2-1 structure.

Sam F. Davis Stakes Picks

• #12 Kitten Mischief
• #3 Classic Causeway
• #9 Howling Time
• #7 Make it Big

Sam F. Davis Stakes Wagers

• $10 win/place/show 12
• 50-cent superfecta 12 with 3, 9 with 3, 7, 9 with all
• 50-cent superfecta 12 with 3, 9 with all with 3, 7, 9

Sam F. Davis Stakes Contenders

#1 MR RUM RUNNER broke his maiden two back prior to recording a third-place result in the Mucho Macho Man S. most recently. The Patrick Biancone pupil has speed from the rail, but he will need a big step forward to challenge this cast late.

#2 UNPREDICTABLE BAY dominated maiden foes in his juvenile finale which followed five prior runner-up performances. The consistent son of Cairo Prince has good early foot, and if he clears early, then the bargain purchase could be in the running for a share on Saturday. Alonso Quinonez will be in the silks.

#3 CLASSIC CAUSEWAY put in a fine two-year-old season and rates as an obvious contender on this occasion. The chestnut Giant’s Causeway colt is twice graded placed to this stage of his development, and he has trained forwardly in preparation of his three-year-old debut. Irad Ortiz will take the reins.

#4 GOLDEN GLIDER is two-for-two to date and proved to have an affinity for the course with a local allowance triumph last time out. The Mark Casse trainee will need to move forward to upset this cast, but he has potential as a solid long-term prospect. Antonio Gallardo will be in the silks.

#5 GOD OF LOVE capped his two-year-old season with a rallying victory in the Grey S. (G3) at Woodbine. The Cupid chestnut remains a mystery without ever having run on the dirt, however. Regular pilot Rafael Hernandez coming to ride is a positive.

#6 TRADEMARK has gone wire-to-wire in two straight for trainer Vicki Oliver. The gelded son of Upstart has improved since stretching out in distance, and the bay has intrigue while facing stakes foes for the initial time. Daniel Centeno will be in the silks.

#7 MAKE IT BIG brings a perfect three-for-three mark to the field for trainer Saffie Joseph. The Springboard Mile hero has done little wrong to date, and the son of Neolithic is a prime top-four player with even minor improvement off of his two-year-old form. Jose Ortiz retains the mount.

#8 SHIPSATIONAL sports a three-for-four mark while registering a pair of 101 Brisnet Speed figures to date. The Empire State-bred could be any kind while making his sophomore bow with Javier Castellano in the silks.

#9 HOWLING TIME rolled home an impressive winner in his initial two tries last season before fading to fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2). The Dale Romans pupil is training in swift fashion as of late, and his best effort will make him a serious player in the stretch under regular rider Joe Talamo.

#10 VOLCANIC gamely graduated at Gulfstream Park last time out in his first race with blinkers on. The chestnut son of Violence is bred to run long, and he has appeal as an off-the-pace type in a field with an abundance of early speed in the mix. Edwin Gonzalez has the call.

#11 STRIKE HARD was a clear second in the recent Mucho Macho Man S. in his second run with blinkers last time out. The son of Flashback faces a tall task here, but he continues to improve and can’t be dismissed as an exotics player at a square number.

#12 KITTEN MISCHIEF gets the upset nod for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The Into Mischief gelding has impressed from two career performances, and while he will have to overcome a tough post, the Kentucky-bred seems poised for a big run in his first try around two turns. Manny Franco inherits the ride.

#13 LITTLE VIC has contested a pair of sprint races to date, recently finishing second behind the impressive My Prankster for Avila. The talented son of Practical Joke will have to overcome the outermost draw in his route debut, and others seem more likely in my opinion.