Sam F. Davis: Owen Almighty adds blinkers for two-turn debut

While disappointed by the disqualification of Owen Almighty from first place for interference in the Pasco Stakes last month, trainer Brian Lynch was hardly discouraged. In the month since that race, Lynch has been delighted with Owen Almighty, who makes his two-turn debut in Saturday’s $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Owen Almighty and Poster, winner of the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in December, head a field of 10 3-year-olds trying to position themselves for a run at the Kentucky Derby in three months. The Sam Davis, at 1 1/16 miles, offers its top five finishers Derby qualifying points (20-10-6-4-2).

Owen Almighty had an intestinal issue following his second-place finish in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes last September at Churchill Downs. Lynch targeted the Pasco for Owen Almighty’s return, and the horse crossed the finish line first by a length over Naughty Rascal. However, going into the far turn, Owen Almighty, under Irad Ortiz Jr., came in a step and forced Rookie Card and Junior Alvarado to take up sharply. Ultimately, the stewards disqualified Owen Almighty from first and placed him fifth.

“DQ aside, thrilled with the way his comeback went,” Lynch said. “Game effort and just love the way he’s trained coming out of that race going into the Sam Davis. If any horse has flourished since he’s been down here, it’s him.”

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At the behest of Ortiz, Lynch is equipping Owen Almighty with blinkers for the first time in the Sam Davis. Ortiz was aboard Owen Almighty last weekend for a workout in blinkers and told Lynch he thinks he should run in them.

“Irad felt like they might help him,” Lynch said. “He worked comfortable in them, they didn’t seem to bother him and he was up into his work, so we’ll roll the dice and go with it.”

Owen Almighty, a son of Speightstown, will be attempting two turns for the first time in the Sam Davis, which is a stepping-stone to the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 8.

“He’s very rateable. He seems to be training with plenty of energy at the end of his gallops here,” Lynch said. “I don’t hesitate to say he’ll get it.”

Poster proved himself on dirt and around two turns when he won the Remsen going 1 1/8 miles on Dec. 7 at Aqueduct. He was scheduled to return in the Withers last Saturday at Aqueduct, but winter weather in Kentucky, where he was based at Turfway Park, interrupted his training so this spot became plan B.

Trainer Eoin Harty noted that Poster was a bit anxious in the paddock prior to the Remsen. He believes the horse has calmed down and has had a good week of training at Tampa.

“The older he’s gotten, the better he’s gotten. He’s really adapted well to Tampa and seems very happy there,” said Harty, who has Antonio Gallardo to ride.

Harty also sends out Very Bold, a son of Union Rags who crossed the wire third but was elevated to second in the Pasco Stakes. He breaks from post 10.

Treaty of Rome, a son of Uncle Mo, will make his two-turn debut in the Sam Davis for trainer Chad Brown and the Coolmore connections of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. Treaty of Rome is coming out of a runner-up finish behind Guns Loaded in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. Guns Loaded finished seventh in the Holy Bull Stakes last Saturday.

Dylan Davis rides Treaty of Rome.

John Hancock, a son of Constitution, was a three-length debut winner going six furlongs Jan. 8 for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and trainer Brad Cox. He is a half-brother to Speech, who won the Grade 1 Ashland at 1 1/16 miles in 2020.

“I think he’s bred to be a little better with more ground, so that’s encouraging,” Cox said.

Flavien Prat, who went 4 for 4 last Saturday at Tampa Bay, is back to ride this horse.

Naughty Rascal was the beneficiary of the disqualification of Owen Almighty in the Pasco. That was the fourth victory and third stakes win from six starts for the son of Rogueish. Trainer Gerald Bennett has previously said he thinks Naughty Rascal could improve going longer on dirt.

The wild card in the field is Smoken Boy, who makes his first start in the United States after winning 2 of 3 starts at Camarero Racetrack in Puerto Rico. He goes out for Jose D’Angelo, who won last year’s Sam Davis with No More Time.

D’Angelo said Smoken Boy would “zig-zag” at the end of his races in Puerto Rico, which is why he is putting blinkers on the horse.

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“All the races he won so far he was the best horse, he needs to be more professional,” said D’Angelo, who has Paco Lopez to ride.

Dr Ruben M, trained by Doug O’Neill, is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Springboard Mile at Remington Park. That race did produce next-out stakes winners Coal Battle and Speed King.

Camp Hale and Gateskeeper are both maidens. Camp Hale, second in all three of his starts, is trained by Ian Wilkes, who last week won the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park with Burnham Square.

The Sam Davis goes as race 11 on a 12-race card that begins at 12:15 p.m. and includes three other stakes.

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