Sam F. Davis (GIII)

2025 Sam F. Davis Stakes Overview

The 2025 Sam F. Davis Stakes showcased another competitive renewal, with Owen Almighty’s game second-place finish highlighting the race's quality as a key prep for both the Tampa Bay Derby and Kentucky Derby trail. Run at 1 1/16 miles, this Grade 3, $250,000 event awards 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to its top finishers.

Established in 1981, the race has grown in prominence as Tampa Bay Downs' first major sophomore test of the year. Its timing, typically four weeks before the Tampa Bay Derby, makes it an ideal stepping stone for Derby hopefuls acclimating to Tampa's deep, demanding surface.

Notable recent winners include Classic Causeway (2022), who completed the Davis-Tampa Derby double, and Flameaway (2018), who used his victory as a springboard to Kentucky Derby participation. The race has also produced champions Bluegrass Cat and Destin.

For handicappers, the Davis provides crucial insights into how horses handle Tampa's unique surface. A significant trend shows that roughly 60% of Davis winners had previous Tampa experience. The race typically favors horses with tactical speed who can sustain their run through the long stretch drive.

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Sam F. Davis Stakes Race History 

Inaugurated in 1981, the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs needed more than 20 years to earn its place as a meaningful Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race. But since achieving a six-figure purse in 2004, the Sam F. Davis has steadily risen in prominence while producing a string of high-profile runners.

Contested over 1 1⁄16 miles and serving as a local prep for the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), the Sam F. Davis produced just three Derby starters during its first two decades of existence, not surprising since the purse hovered around $25,000 during the 1990s. But steady purse increases during the mid-2000s attracted higher-quality participants. 2005 winner Andromeda’s Hero went on to finish second in the Belmont S. (G1), 2006 winner Bluegrass Cat nabbed a runner-up effort in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and 2007 winner Any Given Saturday claimed the Haskell Invitational (G1).

This string of quality winners prompted the Sam F. Davis to receive Grade 3 status in 2009, further raising its national profile. Future Blue Grass (G1) and Turf Classic (G1) winner General Quarters was the first to win the newly-upgraded race, and during the 2010s, 10 horses used the Sam F. Davis as a springboard to the Kentucky Derby. Among the best were Tapwrit (runner-up in 2017) and Destin (victorious in 2016), who went on to finish first and second in the Belmont S., respectively.

The purse of the Sam F. Davis climbed to $250,000 in 2012, and in 2017 the race was added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule. It now offers 20 qualification points to the winner.

By J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com