Romans brings top Kentucky Derby hope to Sam Davis

Like most other trainers based on the Atlantic Coast at this time of year, Dale Romans ships the occasional runner across the Florida peninsula to Tampa Bay Downs, mostly for stakes. Predictably, the results have been a mixed bag.

“My history of going over there isn’t all that great, actually,” said Romans, “but I think we might do some good Saturday.”

Romans and his colleagues who focus primarily on Gulfstream Park during the winter months will be looking to nudge the locals aside for the moment when the annual Festival Preview Day is renewed Saturday at Tampa in Oldsmar, Fla. Smiley Sobotka, who has emerged as the top Romans hope for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, is among a capacity field of 3-year-olds in the most important of four stakes, the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis.

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

Smiley Sobotka will be making his 3-year-old debut in the 1 1/16-mile Davis. Owned by the Albaugh Family Stable, the Ontario-bred colt was very game finishing second in his last of three starts at 2, the Nov. 28 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs. He went to the lead shortly after the start, was momentarily overtaken down the backstretch and then again nearing the quarter pole, then resurged to an open lead at the eighth pole. He wound up second when Keepmeinmind, currently among the top-rated Derby hopefuls, rallied from well back to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 2 race.

“I thought he was a winner there for a minute,” said Romans, whose four Tampa wins from 26 starters all came in stakes. “Looking back, it sure was something nice to build on. I think he’s a really good horse and he impresses me with how he’s run every time and how he’s come back in his training. I’ve got him cranked up for this, so I do think he’s going to run big.”

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Smiley Sobotka, with Daniel Centeno riding, figures among the Davis favorites, along with Known Agenda and Nova Rags.

Known Agenda is a St. Elias Stable homebred whose trainer, Todd Pletcher, has won the Davis a record six times. Known Agenda, with John Velazquez in to ride, also will be making his first start of the year after finishing third in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in his final race at 2. The chestnut Curlin colt enters off six works at Pletcher’s winter base at Palm Beach Downs across the state.

Nova Rags, trained by Bill Mott, will be making his first start beyond a mile. The Union Rags colt was an odds-on winner of the Pasco on Jan .16 at Tampa going seven furlongs.

In all, 13 were entered Wednesday for the Davis, with Tiz Tac Toe an also-eligible. The others are Boca Boy, Candy Man Rocket, Hidden Stash, Joe Man Joe, Last Investment, Lucky Law, Millean, Ricochet, and Runway Magic.

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

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