Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist - Sam F. Davis Stakes | February 12

Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist

Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022

By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), Tampa Bay Downs 

Race 10 – The Sam F. Davis drew an overflow field of 13 3-year-olds that will take their chance on the Kentucky Derby trail with qualifying points of 10-4-2-1 available to the top four finishers. (3) Classic Causeway has a class edge over this large field based on his 2-year-old campaign that started with an impressive win at Saratoga going seven-furlongs and then included a second and a third in the Grade 1 and 2 races in Kentucky against the top juvenile competition. The rest of the field has not run against that kind of competition and many of them have questions about the 1 1/16 mile distance. (4) Golden Glider is unbeaten in two starts with a maiden win at Woodbine and then an allowance victory at Tampa that sets this Mark Casse runner up for a big effort. (7) Make It Big is unbeaten in three starts beginning his career in Florida-bred races at Gulfstream Park in a maiden and a stake. He stepped into open company in the Springboard Mile at Remington Park to pick up 10 Derby points with a tactical stalking trip. (6) Trademark ended his 2-year-old campaign in fine form with two wins and a second in Kentucky. He will probably need to race from off the pace in this field, but he did that earlier in his career. Betting strategy:  Exacta key box: 3 with 4, 6, 7, 8. Trifecta part-wheel: 3, 4 with 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 with 3, 4, 6, 7, 8.