Gulfstream: Two headed to Tampa for Sam F. Davis

There will be at least two south-Florida based Kentucky Derby prospects heading to Tampa next week for Tampa Bay Downs' Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes. Trainer Ian Wilkes is pointing his Neck 'n Neck in that direction, as is Jimmy Toner with his recently acquired Chief Energy.

Neck 'n Neck is coming off a second-place finish behind the undefeated Discreet Dancer going a mile under first-level allowance conditions here on Jan. 7. A son of Flower Alley, Neck 'n Neck has already won around two turns, having earned his diploma going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs to close out his 2-year-old campaign.

Chief Energy, by Ghostzapper, was purchased privately by the 90 North Racing Stable syndication, a new group Toner will be training for this season. Chief Energy also won his maiden around two turns, graduating at a mile and 70 yards this summer at Monmouth Park.

Toner will be commuting between New York and Maryland later this year, as he has purchased a barn at the Fair Hill training center for the 90 North horses.

"This will be my first experience at Fair Hill, and I'm really looking forward to it," said Toner. "Besides Chief Energy, we're bringing in a couple of horses from England as well."

Toner also reports that Winter Memories has rejoined his stable at Palm Meadows after spending some time just kicking back and relaxing on Darby Dan Farm following the conclusion of her 3-year-old campaign. Winter Memories won the Grade 1 Garden City in September but closed out the year finishing a disappointing fourth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

"The Garden City was visually unbelievable, but those types of races can really empty a horse out, and she probably did not go into the QEII as good as she should have," said Toner. "With her turn of foot, shorter races might be better so we're going to make the Breeders' Cup Mile, not the Filly and Mare Turf, our main goal this season."