
Class Test for Gettysburg in $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes
On Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, the track will host the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes. A Grade 3 event for three-year-olds, the mile and a sixteenth contest is a prep race for the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and offers points towards a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Gettysburg tops the field of seven as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 and is one of two horses in the race for trainer Todd Pletcher. Purchased for $425,000 as a yearling, the gray son of Pioneerof the Nile will be stepping up to stakes competition for the first time. After finishing ninth and then third against maiden company, he broke through and won his third career start. Javier Castellano will be aboard and they will break from post position two.
Destin looking for first graded stakes win
Second choice at morning line odds of 3-1 is the other Pletcher-trainee, Destin. Purchased for $400,000 as a yearling, the gray son of Giant’s Causeway is a full-brother to graded stakes winner Creative Cause. After breaking his maiden in his debut, he was second in an optional claiming race and fourth in his stakes debut in the LeComte Stakes (G3). John Velazquez will be aboard and they will break from post position three.
Rafting trying for second straight win
Also in the field at morning line odds of 7-2 is Rafting for trainer Graham Motion. A chestnut son of Tapit, he has been on the board in three of his four starts and is trying to earn his third career victory. He is coming into this race off of a victory in the Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream Park West and will be making his graded stakes debut. Edgar Prado will be in the irons and they will break from post position five.
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