Study Guide: 2025 Sam F. Davis Stakes
Feb 06, 2025
Poster wins the Remsen S. at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Joe Labozzetta)
A competitive 10-horse field has assembled for Saturday’s $250,000 Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs, a 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.
Three of the entrants—Poster, Owen Almighty, and Dr Ruben M—have already earned Kentucky Derby qualification points.
Let’s check out the full field:
Camp Hale
#7 David of Athens gains the edge over #12 Camp Hale at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 3
Show: 0
Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $56,950
Sire: Mo Town
Dam: Magic Hour
Color: Bay
Although Camp Hale has yet to win a race, he’s finished second in a trio of fast maiden special weights against quality competition. His career-best 93 Brisnet Speed rating stamps him as the second-fastest entrant in the Sam F. Davis field, so Camp Hale can’t be counted out of the mix. His pedigree suggests he’ll enjoy tackling a two-turn race for the first time.
Treaty of Rome
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith
Breeder: Orpendale/Chelston
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Dylan Davis
Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $89,700
Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Coin Broker
Color: Bay
Treaty of Rome has improved with every start so far. He exits a fast-closing runner-up finish in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man S. and should appreciate stretching out around two turns in the Sam F. Davis, opening the door for another step forward.
John Hancock
Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: WinStar Farm and CHC
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a Tampa Bay Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $18,560
Sire: Constitution
Dam: Scribbling Sarah
Color: Chestnut
John Hancock led all the way to easily win his debut sprinting six furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs. Trainer Brad Cox wins at a 29% rate with horses stretching out beyond sprint distances for the first time, so look for John Hancock to challenge for victory under red-hot jockey Flavien Prat, who has gone 4-for-5 (80%) at Tampa this meet.
Dr Ruben M
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: The Del Mar Group
Breeder: Malibu Farm
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $77,700
Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Xoxo
Color: Chestnut
Dr Ruben M made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut with a fourth-place finish in the Remington Springboard Mile S. The top two finishers, Coal Battle and Speed King, have come back to win Kentucky Derby qualifiers, so Dr Ruben M exits a strong race and shouldn’t be underestimated in the Sam F. Davis.
Gateskeeper
Start(s): 2
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Gervais Racing
Breeder: Jeff Little
Trainer: S. Jade Cunningham
Jockey: David Cohen
Top Speed Rating: (82) when finishing second in an Oaklawn Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $28,800
Sire: Instagrand
Dam: Tenation
Color: Bay
Gateskeeper hasn’t missed the top three in his first two starts, but he’s yet to visit the winner’s circle, and he’ll need to improve upon his career-best 82 Brisnet Speed rating to challenge against tougher competition in the Sam F. Davis.
Owen Almighty
Owen Almighty wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing
Breeder: Mark Stanley
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (90) in the Pasco S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $234,310
Sire: Speightstown
Dam: Tempers Rising
Color: Bay
Runner-up in the Iroquois (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Owen Almighty recently returned from a layoff in the seven-furlong Pasco S. at Tampa. He crossed the wire first in a determined performance but was disqualified to fifth place for interfering with a rival. If he improves at all in his second start back, Owen Almighty is a logical contender for a top-three finish.
Poster
Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Eoin Harty
Jockey: Antonio Gallardo
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $241,628
Sire: Munnings
Dam: Pin Up
Color: Chestnut
Poster is undefeated in three starts, most notably winning the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. This Godolphin homebred is the most accomplished horse in the Sam F. Davis field and warrants serious respect even while racing for the first time in two months.
🌹 Poster takes the G2 Remsen at Aqueduct at 9/2 and remains undefeated!
Eoin Harty trains for @godolphin and Flavien Prat was aboard. pic.twitter.com/44XnonvES7
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 7, 2024
Naughty Rascal
Naughty Rascal wins the Pasco Stakes. (Photo by SV Photo)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 4
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Mr Pug and J.P.G. 2
Breeder: Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, Helen Barbazon, and Joseph Barbazon
Trainer: Gerald Bennett
Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez
Top Speed Rating: (96) in the Inaugural S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $220,630
Sire: Rogueish
Dam: Baby Doll
Color: Bay
Naughty Rascal crossed the wire second in the Pasco and was upgraded to first place via the disqualification of Owen Almighty. That marked his fifth straight top-three finish at the stakes level. Naughty Rascal has earned sharp Brisnet Speed ratings over a variety of surfaces and distances, so don’t count him out of contention in the Sam F. Davis.
Smoken Boy
Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Sonata Stable
Breeder: Robert V. LaPenta
Trainer: Jose D’Angelo
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $46,490
Sire: Catholic Boy
Dam: Smoken Deb
Color: Gray/roan
Smoken Boy is shipping in from Camarero in Puerto Rico. He exits a 9 1/4-length romp in the Clasico Agustin Mercado Reveron S., one of Camarero’s most important prizes for juveniles, but the competition figures to be tougher at Tampa Bay Downs.
Very Bold
Very Bold wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Dr. Richard Holder
Trainer: Eoin Harty
Jockey: Jesus Castanon
Top Speed Rating: (82) when winning a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $76,571
Sire: Union Rags
Dam: Sweet Revenge
Color: Chestnut
Very Bold crossed the wire third in the Pasco, 5 1/2 lengths behind Owen Almighty and 4 1/2 lengths behind Naughty Rascal. He’ll need a step forward to turn the tables.
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