Independence Hall stays fit for Sam Davis Stakes

Independence Hall, a leading Kentucky Derby contender off his victories in the Nashua and Jerome at Aqueduct, breezed a half-mile in 49.60 seconds Sunday at Tampa in his second local work since arriving shortly after the Jan. 1 Jerome.

“That was enough for today,” trainer Mike Trombetta said. “He just ran 19 days ago. It’s where I want him to be. He did just enough, and next week I’ll ask him for a bit more.”

Independence Hall, by Constitution, is being pointed to the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis at Tampa. It’s the first of two Kentucky Derby qualifying-points races at Tampa, followed by the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby.

Independence Hall is undefeated in three starts. He closed at 13-1 in the first of four pools (Nov. 28-Dec. 1) into the 2020 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Pool 2 will coincide with the weekend of the Sam Davis.

◗ A rare five-day race week is being run this week at Tampa owing to a nine-race card on Thursday, normally a dark day. It’s a makeup card that replaces Dec. 22, which was canceled due to poor weather.