Sam F. Davis Stakes
American Thoroughbred horse race
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The Sam F. Davis Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.[1]
Oldsmar, Florida
| Class | Listed |
|---|---|
| Location | Tampa Bay Downs Oldsmar, Florida |
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $250,000 (since 2012) |
History
The event was named after the industrialist Sam F. Davis who in 1972 became President of the Florida Downs and Turf Club and worked to make the track successful. Davis retired in 1980 with the track renaming itself to Tampa Bay Downs.[2]
The following year the Turf Club inaugurated the event on 28 February 1981 in honor of Sam F. Davis over the distance of one mile and seventy yards with the Robert E. Van Worp Jr. owned and the Robert E. Van Worp Sr. trained Croziers Ace defeating eight other starters with a winning margin of 2+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 1:452⁄5.[3] Two of the starters, Ironical and Jealous Count fell when they were impeded by the second-placed finisher Rightorwron who was disqualified and placed last.[3]
In 1982 the distance of the event was increased to 1+1⁄16 miles.[1] The event was run in split divisions in 1984 with both winners shipping in from Miami.[4] In 1985 the distance of the event was deceased to a seven furlong sprint before reverting to the 1+1⁄16 miles the following year.[5]
From 1986 until 1995 the Breeders' Cup offered incentives for horses nominated to the Breeders' Cup that ran in the event and this reflected in the name of the event.
The scheduling of the Sam F. Davis has made it a logical prep race for the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby which is usually held one month after. In 1987 the winner of the event, Phantom Jet proceeded to win the Tampa Bay Derby.
The event was classified Listed for the first time in 2004 and was upgraded to Grade III in 2009 which headlines Tampa Bay Downs' Festival Preview Day.[6]
Since 2013 the event has been part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and frequently produces starters in that race.
In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.[7]
Records
Speed record:
- 1:42.27 – John Hancock (2025)
Largest Winning Margin:
- 6+3⁄4 lengths – San Gennaro (1999)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – John R. Velazquez (2006, 2007, 2010, 2016)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 8 – Todd A. Pletcher (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2023, 2026)
Most wins by an owner:
- 6 – WinStar Farm (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2025)
Sam F. Davis Stakes – Tampa Bay Derby double:
- Phantom Jet (1987), Speedy Cure (1991), Marco Bay (1993), Thundering Storm (1996), Burning Roma (2001), Destin (2016), Classic Causeway (2022)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Renegade | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Robert & Lawana Low & Repole Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.54 | $210,000 | Listed | [8] |
| 2025 | John Hancock | Flavien Prat | Brad H. Cox | China Horse Club & WinStar Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.27 | $200,000 | Listed | [9] |
| 2024 | No More Time | Paco Lopez | Jose D'Angelo | Morplay Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.26 | $200,000 | III | [10] |
| 2023 | Litigate | Luis Saez | Todd A. Pletcher | Centennial Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.83 | $200,000 | III | [11] |
| 2022 | Classic Causeway | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Brian A. Lynch | Kentucky West Racing & Clarke M. Cooper | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.80 | $200,000 | III | [12] |
| 2021 | Candy Man Rocket | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | Frank Fletcher Racing Operations | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.30 | $200,000 | III | [13] |
| 2020 | Sole Volante | Luca Panici | Patrick L. Biancone | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone, & Limelight Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.60 | $200,000 | III | [14] |
| 2019 | Well Defined | Pablo Morales | Kathleen O'Connell | Stonehedge | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.70 | $250,000 | III | [15] |
| 2018 | Flameaway | Jose Lezcano | Mark E. Casse | John C. Oxley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.44 | $200,000 | III | [16] |
| 2017 | McCraken | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian R. Wilkes | Whitham Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.45 | $200,000 | III | [17] |
| 2016 | Destin | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Twin Creeks Racing Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.67 | $200,000 | III | [18] |
| 2015 | Ocean Knight | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Stonestreet Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1.43.74 | $201,500 | III | [19] |
| 2014 | Vinceremos | Edgar S. Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm & Twin Creeks Racing Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.34 | $200,000 | III | [20] |
| 2013 | Falling Sky | Jose L. Espinoza | John P. Terranova II | Newtown Anner Stud | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.79 | $202,500 | III | [21] |
| 2012 | Battle Hardened | Julien R. Leparoux | Eddie Kenneally | Michael Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.58 | $200,000 | III | [22] |
| 2011 | Brethren | Ramon A. Dominguez | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.07 | $207,500 | III | [23] |
| 2010 | Rule | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.15 | $200,000 | III | [24] |
| 2009 | General Quarters | James Lopez | Mark L. Miller | Thomas R. McCarthy | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.54 | $221,000 | III | [25] |
| 2008 | Fierce Wind | Cornelio Velasquez | Nicholas P. Zito | Four Roses Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.13 | $200,000 | Listed | [26] |
| 2007 | Any Given Saturday | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.27 | $146,000 | Listed | [27] |
| 2006 | Bluegrass Cat | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.17 | $121,000 | Listed | [28] |
| 2005 | Andromeda's Hero | Rafael Bejarano | Nicholas P. Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.63 | $100,000 | Listed | [29] |
| 2004 | Kaufy Mate | Ramsey Zimmerman | Kirk Ziadie | Gregory Kaufman | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.60 | $100,000 | Listed | [30] |
| 2003 | White Buck | Roger I. Velez | Jerry P. Paradise | Olga Paradise | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.47 | $50,000 | [31] | |
| 2002 | Bunk N Ted | Derek C. Bell | Kenneth B. Wirth | Danny Hutt | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:49.86 | $50,000 | [32] | |
| 2001 | § Burning Roma | Juan Umana | Heather A. Giglio | Harold L. Queen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $50,000 | [33] | |
| 2000 | Go Lib Go | Robert C. Landry | Kenneth G. McPeek | Raymond H. Cottrell | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.84 | $35,000 | [34] | |
| 1999 | San Gennaro | Pedro A. Rodriguez | Richard J. Ciardullo Jr. | Richard J. Ciardullo Sr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.54 | $27,675 | [35] | |
| 1998 | Dabney Carr | Kevin Whitley | Elizabeth Zemp-Everard | My Jolee Stable, Patrick & Elizabeth Everard | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.20 | $28,075 | [36] | |
| 1997 | Wilt the Tilt | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | Cyndi Smith | Michael Douglas Smith | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.00 | $28,475 | [37] | |
| 1996 | Thundering Storm | Jorge A. Guerra | Don R. Rice | Deborrah Artz | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.60 | $25,000 | [38] | |
| 1995 | Akiba | Santos Noe Chavez | Sonny Hine | Scott Savin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.40 | $43,925 | [39] | |
| 1994 | Parental Pressure | Jack M. Lauzon | Fred H. Loschke | Hammer Kopf Farm, J. Corrente & Partners | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.40 | $52,850 | [40] | |
| 1993 | Marco Bay | Ronald Dale Allen Jr. | Sarah A. Lundy | Jay Shaw | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $52,175 | [41] | |
| 1992 | Randy | Herson A. Sanchez | Angel Raphael Rosado | Martin Haft | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.40 | $51,050 | [42] | |
| 1991 | § Speedy Cure | Ricardo D. Lopez | Harvey Culp | Susan B. Fisher | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.80 | $31,300 | [43] | |
| 1990 | Fiery Best | Manuel A. Santos | Jose A. Mendez | Fred Berens & Solomon Garazi | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.00 | $53,750 | [44] | |
| 1989 | Papa Leonard | Robert Woodhouse | Joseph I. Losen | Joseph I. Losen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.80 | $37,100 | [45] | |
| 1988 | House Account | Dean Kutz | Thomas F. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.80 | $20,100 | [46] | |
| 1987 | Phantom Jet | K. Keith Allen | Philip A. Gleaves | Aisco Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $17,760 | [47] | |
| 1986 | Fellow's Lady | Ramon Sagardia | Charles Miranda | Anthony Fernandez | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.40 | $22,000 | [48] | |
| 1985 | Tamao's Gray | Ruben A. Hernandez | Curtis N. Spencer | A.J.W. Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:27.00 | $19,800 | [49] | |
| 1984 | Morning Bob | Miguel A. Rivera | Woodford C. Stephens | Brushwood Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.00 | $9,250 | Division 1[4] | |
| D. White | Jose A. Velez Jr. | Frank A. Alexander | Frank A. Alexander & Kevin Miller | 1:46.40 | $9,150 | Division 2[50] | |||
| 1983 | Saverton | Kevin Wirth | Glenn S. Wismer | Orville & Mary M. Zimmerman | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.40 | $12,400 | [51] | |
| 1982 | Tampa Bay Buck | Heriberto Rivera Jr. | Arnold W. Fink | John Spencer | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.80 | $11,830 | [52] | |
| 1981 | Croziers Ace | Brian L. Mills | Robert E. Van Worp Sr. | Robert E. Van Worp Jr. | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:45.40 | $17,145 | [3] |
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry