Oldsmar, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Ocean Knight, who will be making just his
second career start, is the 5-2 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $250,000
Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
The 1 1/16-mile Davis Stakes is the final local prep for the $350,000 Tampa
Bay Derby on March 7 and has drawn a field of 12 3-year-olds.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Ocean Knight will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
from post 11 for owner Stonestreet Stable. Ortiz was aboard when the colt won
his debut start at Aqueduct Dec. 13 as the 2-1 favorite.
Starting from the inside post will be 4-1 second choice Catalina Red with
Daniel Centeno again riding. The chestnut colt is owned by Anthony A. Lenci
and trained by Chad Stewart.
Catalina Red won his last two starts, both stakes at Tampa Bay, after failing
to find the winner’s circle his first three career efforts. He won the
$100,000 Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay by 7 1/4 lengths on Dec. 6 and three
weeks later took the $100,000 Pasco as the 3-5 favorite, setting a track
record for seven furlongs in 1:21.40.
“He came out of the Pasco in good shape, and he’s ready to go,” said Stewart.
“He is just a very smart horse. He stays relaxed, he doesn’t show a lot of
emotion and he likes his job.”
The 9-2 third pick is Ami’s Flatter who will be ridden again by Luis Contreras
from post 3. The colt, bred in Ontario, is owned by Ivan Dalos and trained by
Josie Carroll.
Ami’s Flatter won his debut race at Woodbine on Nov. 9 and began 2015 with a
second at 13-1 to Bluegrass Singer on Jan. 3 in Gulfstream Park’s Mucho Macho
Man Stakes.
Here is the field for the Sam. F. Davis from the rail out: Catalina Red,
Daniel Centeno, 4-1; Royal Son, John Velazquez, 8-1; Ami’s Flatter, Luis
Contreras, 9-2; Crittenden, Fernando De La Cruz, 15-1; Divining Rod, Luis
Garcia, 20-1; Bandages, Ron Allen Jr., 20-1; Brother Bobo, Gabriel Saez, 20-1;
G Five, Rajiv Maragh, 10-1; My Johnny Be Good, Antonio Gallardo, 6-1; Coomer,
Julien Leparoux, 20-1; Ocean Knight, Irad Ortiz Jr., 5-2 and Bears
Personality, Edgar Prado, 20-1.
The Sam F. Davis has an approximate post time of 5:20 p.m. ET.
