Saturday guide: Davis, Lewis offer Kentucky Derby points
Two Grade 3 Kentucky Derby preps are on the schedule for Saturday, the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita, both offering 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.
The Sam F. Davis is at 1 1/16 miles on dirt and is the local prep for the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). In the last 10 years, Sam F. Davis runners have excelled on the Derby trail and beyond. Tapwrit, Catholic Boy and Vino Rosso all hit the board here and went on to win the Belmont Stakes, Travers and Breeders' Cup Classic. Last year's winner, John Hancock, finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby (G2), and runner-up Owen Almighty won the Tampa Bay Derby and finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby.
This year's field brings together nine 3-year-olds looking to earn points toward the Kentucky Derby gate.
Confessional, out of the Brad Cox barn, ran second to Holy Bull (G3) winner Nearly in an allowance optional claimer in January for his second career start. He is from the first crop of sire Essential Quality. Confessional broke his maiden at Keeneland in October and steps up into stakes company for the first time.
Todd Pletcher sends two from his loaded Derby contender stable, Epic Desire and Renegade. Renegade makes his fourth career start and second in a stakes, but he is still looking for his first official win. He placed second behind Paladin in the Remsen (G2) last year, and before that he was disqualified to second behind that rival in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct. The son of Into Mischief needs to stay out of trouble Saturday.
Pletcher's other entrant, Epic Desire, is a son of Uncle Mo who took five starts to break his maiden, but the light finally went off at Tampa in January. He is out of the stakes-winning mare Brooklynsway and is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Adare Manor. He could be one who improves as the distances stretch out.
The only stakes winner in the field is Wayne's Law, a Florida-bred sired by Tiz the Law. He won the Aventura stakes at Gulfstream in September by 7 1/4 lengths. His last start was a third-place finish in the Jean Lafitte stakes at Delta Downs. Amador Sanchez is the trainer.
Get the scoop on the full field, horse-by-horse, here.
The Sam F. Davis is race 11, post time 5:30 p.m. EST.
The Robert B. Lewis at one mile on dirt at Santa Anita has been a fruitful Derby prep. In 2021, Medina Spirit won the Lewis en route to crossing the wire first in the Kentucky Derby, and in 2012, I'll Have Another won the Lewis-Derby double. Bob Baffert has won the last five runnings and trained the top three finishers last year. Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos won the 2024 Lewis.
Baffert has a chance to hit the trifecta once again, with three top contenders: Desert Gate, Plutarch and Cherokee Nation. Desert Gate is the most accomplished, winning the Best Pal (G3) and placing second to Intrepido in the American Pharoah (G1) and Del Mar Futurity (G1) last year. Plutarch broke his maiden in his last start but is stakes-placed on dirt and turf. He finished behind Intrepido and Desert Gate in the American Pharoah. Cherokee Nation is a maiden after four starts, but he placed second in his previous start at Santa Anita. See quick bios of these and all of Baffert's Derby contenders here.
As for Intrepido, the Jeff Mullins trainee is back after a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He won the American Pharoah and broke his maiden at Del Mar. He looks to bounce back after a four-month freshening.
The Robert B Lewis is race 8, post time 7:05 p.m. EST.
Coverage of the Sam F. Davis will be on America's Day at the Races starting at 12:30 EST on FS2. The Robert B. Lewis will be part of regular Santa Anita coverage on FanDuel TV.
Free past performances for the Sam F. Davis and Robert B. Lewis are courtesy of Brisnet.
Here are lifetime speed figures for the Sam F. Davis entrants.
| No. | Horse | Beyer* | TFUS* | Brisnet | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confessional | 85 | 108 | 93 | 123 |
| 2 | Epic Desire | 68 | 90 | 82 | 101 |
| 3 | The Puma | 0 | 107 | 94 | 130 |
| 4 | Game for It | 67 | 88 | 83 | 97 |
| 5 | Ocelli | 71 | 96 | 85 | 105 |
| 6 | Renegade | 86 | 108 | 96 | 114 |
| 7 | Wayne's law | 74 | 89 | 83 | 106 |
| 8 | Max Capacity | 67 | 96 | 91 | 111 |
| 9 | Dr. Kapur | 87 | 109 | 96 | 124 |
Here are the top lifetime speed figures for the Robert B. Lewis entrants.
| No. | Horse | Beyer* | TFUS* | Brisnet | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desert Gate | 88 | 112 | 98 | 115 |
| 2 | Plutarch | 86 | 107 | 98 | 117 |
| 3 | Cherokee Nation | 81 | 99 | 99 | 117 |
| 4 | Intrepdio | 87 | 108 | 99 | 109 |
| 5 | Briggs Armypower | 71 | 84 | 82 | 62 |
| 6 | Robusta | 66 | 96 | 88 | 102 |
| 7 | Secured Freedom | 71 | 115 | 95 | 116 |
*Beyer and TimeformUS speed figures are provided courtesy of Daily Racing Form.
HRN Handicappers
Among the Derby prep excitement this week, champion Nitrogen returns for her 4-year-old season in the Bayakoa (G3) at Oaklawn. HorseCenter's Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman have a lot to say about her – check it out here.
Racing TV personalities you have loved reunite on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod this week. Candice Hare, Joanne Jones, Rich Perloff and Jason Portuondo swap stories about the sport and behind-the-scenes antics that you don't want to miss. Listen here.
When Mike Shutty loves a long shot, it's a must-play. He has zeroed in on a 20-1 shot in the Pelican at Tampa Bay Saturday. Get the scoop.
Don't stop with this week – get the Super Screener for the whole Derby trail & more!