On Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, the featured race is the $250,000 Sam F. Davis, a key prep race for the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. The Grade 3 race will be contested at a mile and a sixteenth on the main track and has drawn a full field of twelve colts and geldings.
Ocean Knight has been installed as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Purchased for $320,000 as a juvenile by Stonestreet Stables, the bay son of Curlin will be taking on stakes competition for the first time after breaking his maiden in his career debut in December at Aqueduct. He has been training steadily since then and has clocked a recent bullet workout in preparation for his first start of the year. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will be aboard from post eleven.
Chad Stewart will saddle Catalina Red, the second choice at 4-1 odds on the morning line. A chestnut son of Munnings, the locally-based contender has won his last two starts, both against stakes competition at Tampa Bay Downs. He pulled off a narrow victory as the favorite last time out in the Pasco Stakes and will stretch out to two-turns for the first time. Daniel Centeno will be aboard and they will break from the rail.
Also in the field at morning line odds of 8-1 is Royal Son for trainer Todd Pletcher. Bred and owned by Winstar Farm, the bay son of Tiznow is out of the stakes winning mare Mama Nadine, a daughter of champion Countess Diana. After finishing second in his first two starts, he broke his maiden as the favorite last time out via disqualification after a rough trip. John Velazquez, aboard for all three outings, will remain aboard from post position two.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
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