Sam F. Davis Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV – Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Florida will play host to the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday, February 1. A group of three year old Kentucky Derby hopefuls will be featured as they go 1 1/16 miles on Tampa Bay Downs’s dirt track for the winner’s share of the $250,000 purse and the 10 qualification points for the Run for the Roses in May.

A field of eight has been confirmed for the Sam F. Davis – race 9 on the Tampa Bay Downs Saturday card. Post time is 4:25 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all eight combatants for this important Grade 3 stakes – a major prep for the Tampa Bay Derby March 8.

Asserting Bear – Reade Baker trained colt finished a disappointing eighth after pressing the pace in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes at Woodbine September 14 but has looked better since in minor stakes action. Last time out was a second in the minor Kingarvie Stakes December 7 after a win in the Coronation Futurity in November and a third in the Cup and Saucer Stakes in October – all results at Woodbine. He has six career starts with two wins, a second and a third place finish and seems to be trending upward before this weekend. Asserting Bear is a finalist for a Sovereign Award as Canada’s outstanding 2-year-old male and will have Joe Rocco Jr. in the saddle from post 6.

Matador – Mark Casse trained colt most recently finished a disappointing sixth after encountering interference in the minor Coronation Futurity at Woodbine November 17 after a great win in the Cup and Saucer Stakes at Woodbine October 20, an OK third behind Go Bro in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes at Woodbine September 14 and a fourth in his debut – the minor Vandal Stakes August 11. He leaves from the far outside post with Julien Leparoux aboard.

Harpoon – Todd Pletcher trained colt will race in stakes company for the first time Saturday but has looked good in his four career starts thus far. He broke maiden last time out by 5 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream, December 26 after finishing second in his three previous MSW starts – one of those seconds coming behind the very impressive Cairo Prince. Luis Saez will ride from post 1 as Harpoon attempt to keep the upward trend going.

Vinceremos – has just two career starts for trainer Todd Pletcher – both MSW races at Gulfstream. Last time out was an impressive win January 4 after a second in his debut November 30. Hall of Famer Edgar Prado gets the mount from the 3 hole.

Sam F. Davis Stakes betting at Tampa Bay Downs with OffTrackBetting.com

Noble Cornerstone – will race for just the third time for trainer Wesley Ward. He is coming off a good second by a neck in the minor Remington Springboard Mile December 15 after a maiden score in his debut at Aqueduct November 3. He has been competitive in both career starts and is expected to be Saturday as well.

Imaginethatmom – has five career starts for trainer Michael Yates including a fifth last time out in the Grade 3 Dania Beach at Gulfstream December 21 and a fourth in his stakes debut – the minor Pulpit Stakes also at Gulfstream November 30. He does have a win and a third place finish in his five race career – they came in his first two starts – the win being a MSW at Calder in September. He returns to dirt hoping to better his fifth place finish last time out.

School On a Hill – Wayne Catalano pupil registered a MSW score in his first start and went on to debut in graded stakes company – a seventh in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes at Woodbine September 14. He hasn’t looked much better since – a fourth last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming followed a third in an Allowance November 21 and an eighth in the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland in October. He has one win and a third place finish in five career starts.

Cousin Stephen – Chad Brown trained colt has three career starts – a pair of fifths with a MSW score sandwiched in there November 17.

Race 9 on Tampa Bay Downs’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:25 PM.