Boca Boy to step up against open rivals in Sam F. Davis Stakes

A wide-open field is expected when entries are taken Wednesday for the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes, with Boca Boy, Smiley Sobotka, and Known Agenda among the 3-year-olds set to clash Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.

The Sam Davis is one of two designated preps for the May 1 Kentucky Derby this weekend, along with the Withers on Saturday at Aqueduct. Points for both races will be awarded on a 10-4-2-1 scale.

Boca Boy is the only stakes winner in the prospective lineup for the 1 1/16-mile Davis, which anchors the annual Festival Preview Day that features three other stakes. Boca Boy defeated fellow Florida-breds in the $400,000 In Reality in his most recent start in late September at his home track, Gulfstream Park, from where the colt was shipped early in order to breeze over the local surface prior to the Davis. He went five furlongs in 1:01.80 on Friday.

“I think this race will be a step up,” said Ken Winebaugh, who partners with his wife, Cheryl, in training the family stable, “but all he has to do is finish well and show he is not outclassed and he will go on from here.”

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Gulfstream Park Clocker Report

The base purse for the Davis is $200,000, plus another $50,000 to the winner if he is a registered Florida-bred. Boca Boy qualifies for the bonus.

Smiley Sobotka, trained by Dale Romans, will vie for favoritism in the Davis when making his 3-year-old debut. The Brody’s Cause colt was second to Keepmeinmind in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in his last start at 2.

“We’re really excited about getting started with him,” Romans said.

Known Agenda is trained by Todd Pletcher, a six-time winner of the Davis. The Curlin colt returns with a steady series of works after most recently finishing third in the Dec. 5 Remsen at Aqueduct.

Others confirmed for the Davis are Broadway, Candy Man Rocket, Hidden Stash, Lucky Law, Ricochet, and Runway Magic.

The Davis leads to the annual marquee event at Tampa, the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 6.

The other Festival Preview stakes are the Suncoast for 3-year-old fillies and a pair of Grade 3 turf races, the Tampa Bay and Endeavour. The Suncoast is a 10-4-2-1 points qualifier for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks.

Unlike most other tracks across the country during the pandemic, Tampa continues to allow ontrack spectators, with strict health protocols in effect. The track has announced that seating on Saturday will be limited to 2,500, with a $10 general admission (and a service fee) being charged through Eventbrite.com.