Treaty of Rome likely to Sam Davis
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Treaty of Rome, beaten a neck by Guns Loaded in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 4, was not entered for Saturday’s Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. Instead, he will be pointed to the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa on Feb. 8, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday.
Though Brown also mentioned the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15 as a possibility for Treaty of Rome, he said he is leaning toward the Sam Davis.
“I like the timing. It’s five weeks from the Mucho Macho Man, it’s close to home, short ship,” Brown said. “You never know if they’re going to handle the surface over at Tampa, but I like the gradual stretch-out for the horse.”
The Sam F. Davis is run at 1 1/16 miles around two turns.
Treaty of Rome, a son of Uncle Mo, finished third going six furlongs in his first start at Aqueduct before winning a one-mile maiden race in his second start. In the Mucho Macho Man, Treaty of Rome was running at Guns Loaded but came up a neck short while finishing 3 3/4 lengths in front of the Brown-trained Septarian, who finished third.
Brown said he’s liked what he’s seen from Treaty of Rome since the Mucho Macho Man.
“That horse keeps coming forward. He inches forward every week. He’s trying to turn into something nice,” Brown said. “I do respect that horse.”
Meanwhile, Brown said Septarian had gotten sick out of the Mucho Macho Man. Brown was hoping to get him back to the work tab this week.
Brown is anticipating starters in both of this Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile turf stakes at Tampa. In the Grade 3, $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes, Brown plans on starting Running Bee, second in the same race last year, and perhaps Unit Economics.
In the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes for females, Brown plans to run Saffron Moon and Venencia with the possibility of a third starter. Entries for those races will be taken Wednesday.
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