Pedigree Query

A new addition to the Derby Points Prep Race scedule is the Sam F. Davis Stakes. It was a welcomed move as Tampa Bay Downs has been used by top trainers, with a good 3YO that prefer using the Tampa Bay Derby as the springboard to the Kentucky Derby. Along with the points upgrade, the field for this years SF Davis upgraded as well. In the entries are the highly regarded McCraken, No Dozing, Wild Shot and the up and coming Fact Finding. Below find the entries and the pp's. TJ

10th Race. (C9) Post 4:45PM STAKES
The 37th Running of The Sam F. Davis Stakes (Grade III)
Purse $250,000 Guaranteed (Includes $50,000 from FTBOA Stakes
Funds) 1-1/16 Miles FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
1 STATE OF HONOR (L) Casse, M Leparoux, J 116
2 KING AND HIS COURT (L) E41 Casse, M Boulanger, G 120
3 FACT FINDING (L) Pletcher, T Velazquez, J 118
4 CHANCE OF LUCK (L) E0 Bennett, G Allen, Jr., R 116
5 SIX GUN SALUTE E5 Harty, E Morales, P 116
6 WILD SHOT (L) E41 Arnold, II, G Albarado, R 116
7 TAPWRIT (L) Pletcher, T Ortiz, J 116
8 MCCRAKEN (L) Wilkes, I Hernandez, Jr., B 122
9 NO DOZING (L) E4 Delacour, A Centeno, D 116
Blinkers On: Chance of Luck; State of Honor
Click on Fact Finding: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... ummary.htm

I am really looking forward to seeing how this race goes - with the highly regarded horses you mentioned (especially No Dozing) - and I am interested to see King and His Court, who beat up on Canadian-breds last season.

Cree wrote:I am really looking forward to seeing how this race goes - with the highly regarded horses you mentioned (especially No Dozing) - and I am interested to see King and His Court, who beat up on Canadian-breds last season.

Hi Cree,
Yes, I noticed Casse's two. I was wondering how "King" would make the transition to dirt. He whipped Casse's State of Honor who handled the transition very well and had worked very good over the dirt at Palm Meadows. Do you know if the training center (Caa) King is training over is a dirt surface?? TJ

I don't know. Can you tell if that is dirt from this picture?

https://www.facebook.com/Casseracing/ph ... =1&theater

Hi Cree,
Thanks for the picture...but it's hard to tell what the surface is? TJ

I think there is another photo on that Facebook page that shows Casse standing at the edge of the track, and I still can't tell if it's dirt. Maybe I should message them and ask, for handicapping purposes?

Cree wrote:I think there is another photo on that Facebook page that shows Casse standing at the edge of the track, and I still can't tell if it's dirt. Maybe I should message them and ask, for handicapping purposes?

Hi Cree,
I understand he has a farm in Florida and Canada. Both are named Moonshadow, the one in Canada is Moonshadow North. What I was able to search is Casse has access to training on turf, dirt and synthetic at the Ocala farm...but don't know all this is available at the Moonshadow farm or other fascilities nearby? Guess they aren't concerned about what facilities are available at the farms, as it seems to be private? TJ

Fact Finding...of the last 11 running's of this race Pletcher won it 6 times, preferred inside post.
McCraken...undefeated colt has been primed for this one...as both the top two look to stay unbeaten?
Wild Shot...
No Dozing...

The other Pletcher horse, Tapwrit, may have a good chance to win.

Here's the finish:
McCraken...very impressive win going wide and coming from way off the pace, while packing top weight.
Tapwrit...a decent 2nd. (nice call George:>)
State of Honor...3rd
Wild Shot...4th

I liked the way Tapwrit finished. Looked to me that he was running fast at the end, with something left for the next one.

McCraken looked like a good horse winning yesterday. I'd like to see the connections win the Derby.