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Davis Stakes Has Interest Of Trainers Around U.S.

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By BART O'CONNELL, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 26, 2008

OLDSMAR - While nominations for next month's $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes won't be released until next Sunday, Tampa Bay Downs officials already have received interest from several of the top thoroughbred trainers in the country.

During a four-day trip to South Florida, which included stops at Payson Park, Palm Meadows, Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park, TBD stakes coordinator Duby Christo picked up several nominations from Hall of Fame trainer William Mott for all three stakes on Feb. 16 - including the Endeavour Breeders' Cup (Grade III) and Suncoast Stakes.

Among Mott's Sam F. Davis nominees is Z Humor, which won the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot in a dead heat in December. He also has nominated Riley Tucker and Alaazo.

"He's planning to win all three of them," Christo said of Mott's Feb. 16 stakes plans.

There could be some changes in Mott's plans if trainer Nick Zito enters Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner War Pass in the Sam F. Davis. While Zito has told the Daily Racing Form that he's looking at the race, Christo doesn't believe War Pass will be nominated. Mott's most high-profile 3-year old, the George Steinbrenner-owned Majestic Warrior, was not discussed and likely won't be nominated.

Another notable early nominee for the Sam F. Davis is Wise Answer, trained by David Brownlee. Wise Answer won three stakes at Calder in a two-month span and has amassed more than $450,000 in earnings. Brownlee also has nominees for the other two stakes that day.

Christo also expects to hear from trainer Todd Pletcher in about a week on his plans, but he's likely to make nominations for all three stakes as well. Pletcher has trained the last two Sam F. Davis winners (Any Given Saturday in 2007, Bluegrass Cat in '06).

This is a big year for the Sam F. Davis, which narrowly missed becoming a graded stakes race in the offseason. Graded stakes earnings are one of the factors in determining the Kentucky Derby field, so many horses have to go elsewhere early in the season. That has made recruiting the race just as difficult as in years past.

SUNSHINE CONNECTIONS: Today's Sunshine Millions stakes series at Gulfstream and Santa Anita includes several past runners at TBD. The races are open only to Florida and California breds, and begin at about 4 p.m. ESPN2's coverage starts at 5.

Three entries in the $1,000,000 Classic - Go Between, Electrify and Gottcha Gold - raced in Oldsmar last year. Go Between, trained by Mott, won the $85,000 Cherokee River Stable Stakes on Florida Cup Day; Gottcha Gold was fourth in the Budweiser Challenger Stakes; and Electrify won four stakes at Calder since finishing fourth in a $25,000 allowance race at TBD in March.

Seven other horses with TBD performances are entered in the eight stakes races, including Florida Cup Day stakes winners Quite a Bride (Filly and Mare Turf) and Soldier's Dancer (Turf Stakes).

AROUND THE TRACKS: Derby Lane's Matinee Idol Stakes will start just before 2 p.m. today. The eight-greyhound field includes last year's Derby Lane Million and this year's Inaugural winner Flying Stanley, having won 19 of his last 25 starts at Derby Lane. ... TBD is giving away gray and blue caps to the first 7,500 paid admissions today. Sunday is Family Fiesta Day, with Latin entertainment and personalities in the picnic area north of the grandstand.

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