Sam F. Davis Stakes 2016 at Tampa Bay Downs

OffTrackBetting.com - Tampa Bay Downs in beautiful Tampa, Florida will be the scene of the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday, February 13. Three year olds will be after the winner's share of the $250,000 purse when they take to Tampa Bay's dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles.

A field of seven will take to the track in the Sam F. Davis Stakes - race 5 on Tampa Bay Downs Saturday card. Post time is 2:15 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all seven entries for this Grade 3 stakes - a major prep for next month's Tampa Bay Derby.

2016 Sam F. Davis Stakes Race Preview

Rafting - will race for the fifth time for trainer Graham Motion after four career starts produced two wins and a third place finish. He enters off a win in his stakes debut - the minor $75,000 Smooth Air Stakes in convincing fashion at Gulfstream Park West November 28 which followed a third in an Allowance at Keeneland in October and a maiden score at Saratoga in September. Rafting has looked good in works leading up to this race and chases his second straight stakes win when he lines up in gate 5 with Edgar Prado guiding him.

Morning Fire - has placed in seven of eight career starts for trainer Keith Nations - three wins, three seconds and a third place finish. Last time out was a good win in the minor Pasco Stakes on this very track January 23 after consecutive runner-up finishes - the minor Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes December 5 and the minor Christopher Elser Memorial Stakes in November and an Allowance score at Parx in October. Morning Fire has been competitive every time out and hopes to carry on that trend in his first start around two turn - from gate 6 with Daniel Centeno in the reins.

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Whatawonderflworld - Mark Casse trained gelding has three wins and a third place finish in four career starts and enters on a nice three race win streak - the minor $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes at Ocala Training Center last time out January 26, an Allowance Optional Claiming at Aqueduct November 19 and a maiden score in October. He has been terrific so far and could be in the mix for his first graded stakes win - from gate 4 with Jose Lezcano in the irons.

Gettysburg - Todd Pletcher trained colt has a win and a third place finish in three career starts and races in stakes company for the first time Saturday. Last time out was an impressive maiden score by 4 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream Park January 9 after a third and a ninth respectively in his first two career starts. Gettysburg has been trending upward ahead of his step up in competition and could be a factor. Javier Castellano will be in the saddle Saturday hoping to make it two wins in a row.

Destin - will hit the track for the fourth time for trainer Todd Pletcher having recorded a win and a second place finish so far. Last time out was his only off-the-board finish - in the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at Fair Grounds January 16 which followed a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream December 18 and a maiden score at first asking - back in October. Destin has been OK so far and looks for a major breakthrough Saturday with John Velazquez aboard from post 3.

Awesome Slate - Brian Lynch trained gelding has three wins, a second and a third place finish in six career starts. Last time out was a third behind Morning Fire in the minor Pasco Stakes on this track January 23 which followed consecutive wins - the minor Canadian Juvenile Stakes at Northlands Park October 24 and an Allowance on that same track October 3. He has been in every race so far (except for a DNF in July) and could be in the running for his first graded stakes score Saturday. Julien Leparoux has the mount from the outside post 7.

No More Chillin - has six career starts for trainer Ron Potts with a win and a third place finish. He makes his graded stakes debut off a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming here January 24, an ugly thirteenth in the minor Florida Sire In Reality Stakes October 3 and an eighth in the minor Florida Sire Affirmed Stakes in September. He has placed in just one of his last five starts overall (that coming last time out) and obviously enters in less-than-spectacular form. Huber Villa-Gomes has been tabbed to ride from the rail.

2016 Sam F. Davis Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 5 on Tampa Bay Downs's Saturday card with a Post Time of 2:15 PM.