McCraken's 3-year-old debut will be Sam Davis Stakes

The undefeated McCraken, who along with Classic Empire is one of the top Kentucky Derby prospects based in South Florida this winter, is scheduled to make his first start at age 3 in the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 11, trainer Ian Wilkes said Sunday morning.

Wilkes said he wants to start off at Tampa because he doesn’t want to “take him out of his game” by running McCraken at Gulfstream over a surface that might not be as conducive to his style.

“It’s hard to close on that track,” Wilkes said. “I don’t want to get the horse used up in his first race.”

Wilkes said he wants to give McCraken three starts this year before the Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs. McCraken ran three times at age 2, and concluded his campaign with a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.