Litigate makes his case in stakes debut, joins Derby picture in Sam F. Davis

Feb 11, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Litigate made his stakes debut a winning one in Sam F. Davis
(G3), rallying to a 1 1/4-length decision, and provided trainer Todd Pletcher with
a record seventh victory in the Road to
the Kentucky Derby series qualifier at Tampa Bay Downs.

Pletcher, who recently received his record eighth Eclipse
Award after conditioning three champions in 2022, including early
Kentucky Derby favorite Forte, will seek his third Kentucky Derby win this
spring, and Litigate earned 20 points toward a spot in a 20-horse field at Churchill
Downs on May 6.

Luis Saez picked up the mount on the son of Blame, and
Centennial Farms campaigns the $370,000 yearling purchase. Litgate completed
the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.83 on the fast track, and he left the starting
gate as the 2.80-1 second choice among 11 runners.

After stalking the pace a few lengths back in fifth,
Litigate rallied three wide on the far turn, and he seized the lead from pacesetter
Zydeceaux in upper stretch. The bay colt drove clear in the final furlong, comfortably
proving best over runner-up Groveland, who was off at 21-1. It was another 1
1/2 lengths back to 12-1 Classic Car Wash in third.

Classic Legacy, Zydeceaux, Laver, and Dreaming of Kona came
next under the wire. Dubyuhnell, the 2-1 favorite in his first start since
winning the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct in early December, never recovered
after being steadied on the first turn and checked in eighth. Prairie Hawk,
Worthington, and Champions Dream rounded out the finish.

Bred in Kentucky by Nursery Place, Happy Broadbent, and John
Donaldson, Litigate relished the stretch out to two turns in the Sam Davis. He improved
his record to 2-for-3, winning his career debut over 6 1/2 furlongs at Aqueduct
in mid-November and finishing second in a one-turn mile allowance at Gulfstream
Park on Jan. 9.