Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said he is inclined to keep Candy Man Rocket and Nova Rags separated as they proceed down the Kentucky Derby trail after the colts finished one-two Saturday in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. Mott told Tampa publicity Sunday he is likely to run one of his Sam Davis runners back in the March 6 Tampa Bay Derby, the annual marquee race at the Oldsmar, Fla., track, while diverting the other to a different spot. “It would be nice to run one of them there, knowing they both like the track, but maybe we will try to split them up next time,” Mott said. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Candy Man Rocket ($8.20), owned by Frank Fletcher, sped clear of his 11 rivals turning for home in the Davis before finishing a length ahead of Nova Rags. Hidden Stash was a late-running third, another neck back, while Known Agenda, the 3-2 favorite, was no factor when fifth. Candy Man Rocket, by Candy Ride, earned 10 qualifying points toward the May 1 Kentucky Derby and an 85 Beyer Speed Figure in the 1 1/16-mile race, his first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs. Both he and Nova Rags, who earned 4 Kentucky Derby points and an 83 Beyer, returned to Mott’s winter base at Payson Park no worse for wear, the trainer said. “I know everybody this time of year is thinking of the Triple Crown, but there is still a long road ahead for that,” Mott said. “You just have to take things one step at a time.” Mott had never won the Davis before Saturday, but he is a two-time winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, most recently in 2019 with Tacitus. Tacitus wound up being elevated to third later that spring in the Kentucky Derby on the disqualification of Maximum Security. Runner-up Country House was elevated to first, giving Mott his first Kentucky Derby win. The Davis was the last of four straight graded stakes held on an overcast but dry afternoon. The other Festival Preview Day stakes winners were Curlin’s Catch (75 Beyer) in the Suncoast, a Kentucky Oaks qualifier; Get Smokin (95) in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes; and Counterparty Risk (88) in the Grade 3 Endeavour. The Ontario-bred Curlin’s Catch has emerged as a Kentucky Oaks contender and a prospect for the Queen’s Plate, to be run Aug. 22 at Woodbine. She is trained by Mark Casse, who won the Queen’s Plate with fillies Lexie Lou (2014) and Wonder Gadot (2018). Get Smokin is owned by Mary Sullivan, a longtime owner-breeder who celebrated her 92nd birthday Monday in Vero Beach, Fla. Tom Bush, who trains the speedy 4-year-old gelding, said Sullivan watched the Tampa Bay Stakes on television at home “and was thrilled” with the result. :: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more. Counterparty Risk, an Irish-bred 4-year-old filly, was one of three stakes winners on the day for Chad Brown, along with Risk Taking in the Withers at Aqueduct and Great Island in the off-turf Suwannee River at a soggy Gulfstream Park. Brown, a four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, had won just one stakes this year until Saturday. Counterparty Risk, making her fourth start, won a stakes for the first time. “She has had some injuries, none serious, but always inconveniencing and requiring patience,” Brown said. “We are very grateful for her ability and my team’s preparations.” All-sources handle on a 12-race Saturday program was $13.2 million, the highest in 41 years for a Festival Preview Day and the third-highest in track history, behind only two Tampa Bay Derby Days. Attendance was limited to 2,500 as Tampa continues to permit ontrack spectators amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Sprint stakes up next The $75,000 Pelican and $50,000 Minaret will highlight the coming weekend on Saturday at Tampa. The Pelican is for older horses, and the Minaret for fillies and mares. Both are at six furlongs on the main track. The Pelican offers a $25,000 bonus to the winner if he is a registered Florida-bred. The Pelican field is expected to include Extravagant Kid, Shivaree, and Cool Arrow. Likely favorites for the Minaret include Bronx Beauty, Thissmytime, and Heiressall, all shipping from Gulfstream. Two allowances on tap A pair of allowances will help get another four-day race week started Wednesday when the first of nine races goes at 12:32 p.m. Eastern. Race 5 is a $24,750 second-level race in which Hide the Demon and Tudox Expectations rate highly among seven fillies and mares going seven furlongs. Race 8 is a $23,750 first-level turf mile that drew 10 3-year-olds led by Trade Deal, a Wesley Ward shipper. ◗ Samy Camacho and Antonio Gallardo are deadlocked with 51 winners atop the local rider standings at this five-month meet. Each has a full slate of mounts on the day.