Horse Racing: Derby Preps Highlight Saturday Stakes Action

There are two key Kentucky Derby preps on the wagering menu on Saturday, one on dirt and the other on a synthetic surface, and they are separated by 3000 miles.

At Tampa Bay Downs, a field of seven three year olds will go 1 1/16 miles on the main track in the $225,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), a prep for the marquee event of the meet, the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 13.

Later over the Pro Ride surface at Santa Anita, a field of five promising three year olds will go 1 1/16 miles in the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2), which was rescheduled from last Saturday when rains forced the cancelation of the entire racing program.

The Sam F. Davis is one of three stakes on an outstanding 12 race card at Tampa Bay Downs.

The race looks like a showdown between the Todd Pletcher trained Rule, who will be making his first start since winning the Delta Jackpot (G3) at Delta Downs on Dec. 4, and the local favorite Uptowncharlybrown.

Uptowncharlybrown is trained by Alan Seewald for the Fantasy Lane Stable, and the colt will be making his first start around two turns.

After the colt broke his maiden in his debut by nine lengths, the son of Limehouse won the Pasco Stakes by six lengths going seven furlongs.

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The two likely favorites are the lone runners in the field that have a stakes win on their resume.

Middle of the Nite figures to move forward in his second start of his three year old campaign. The colt was off a step slow last out in a third place finisher against first level allowance foes at Gulfstream Park.

Schoolyard Dreams passed his first test over the Tampa Bay main track, beating allowance foes going two turns on Jan. 9. The Derek Ryan trainee is adding blinkers today and may get overlooked at the betting windows.

The race following the Sam F. Davis is the $125,000 Endeavour Stakes (G3), which drew a overflowing field of fillies and mares who will go 1 1/16 miles on the turf course.

Romacaca and Lady Shakespeare finished in a dead heat for second in the Marshua River at Gulfstream Park in their last start and find a good spot for their return.

Lady Shakespeare’s older brother is Grade 1 turf winner Shakespeare, who won seven of eight career starts and earned $1.2 million in his career.

Romacaca has landed in the exacta in five of her seven starts on grass.

Danny Miller claimed the filly for just $25,000 last April, and won three straight with her, including stakes wins in the Hatoof and Diamond Ring at Arlington Park.

An interesting longshot in the race is Happiness Is. The Tom Proctor trainee did not care for the good going in her last start in the Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf at Kentucky Downs.

The six year old mare won the Lady Canterbury Stakes in her previous start last July. She has been freshened, is popping bullet works in the morning, and the barn is solid bringing runners back off a layoff.

There are five stakes on the Santa Anita card, including three that were washed out by rain last Saturday.

The $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (G2) drew a field of five three year olds, losing a pair that was going to run when this race was carded last Saturday.

Trainer Bob Baffert is locked and loaded with promising three year olds this year, and sends out Stuka Stakes winner Tiz Chrome, who is perfect in his two career outings.

Former Baffert assistant Eoin Harty will saddle Hollywood Prevue (G3) winner American Lion.

The field is completed by Norfolk Stakes sixth place finisher Dave in Dixie, the undefeated Caracortado, and recent first level allowance winner Tango Tango.

The $250,000 Las Virgenes marks the three year old debut of the talented Blind Luck, who capped off her two year old campaign by winning the Hollywood Starlet (G1).

The filly won four of six starts last year and was a close up third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) where she was beaten just ¾ of a length for the top spot.

She takes on five foes, led by Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies winner La Nez, and Santa Ysable (G3) winner Crisp.

Baffert has a good shot of winning the prestigious $200,000 Strub Stakes (G2) as well. The hall of fame trainer sends out Misremembered, who was a game second in the Malibu (G1) in his last outing.

The four year old son of Candy Ride has landed in the exacta in seven of his nine career starts, with a couple of stakes wins, taking the Swaps (G2) and Indiana Derby (G2) last year.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will give a leg up to Eclipse Award winning jockey Julien Leparoux, who will ride Eagle Poise, who checked in second in the Valedictory Stakes in his last start.

The winner of that race was Cloudy’s Knight, who came back to win the McKnight Handicap (G2) in his next start at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 26.

Other contenders in the race are Massone, who was third in the Sir Beaufort (G3) in his last start, and the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee Rendezvous, who is coming off a third place finish in the San Fernando (G2).  

Racing on the east coast and the northeast should be getting back to normal on Saturday after getting bombarded by snow in recent days.

The feature at Aqueduct is the $65,000 Busher Stakes. A field of eight three year old fillies will go 1 1/16 miles on the inner track.

The filly to beat is Anchorage, who disappointed as the favorite in the Busanda Stakes on Jan. 9, which was her first start off a 2 ½ month break.

The filly figures to bounce back with a better effort for trainer Todd Pletcher, who is winning at a 41% clip at the current Aqueduct meeting.

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