Litigate takes charge in the stretch to win the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. (SV Photography)
The Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes is named in honor of the former president at Tampa Bay Downs when the track was known as Florida Downs and Turf Club. Unofficially, however, the race also belongs to trainer Todd Pletcher. The Hall of Famer sent out a record-extending seventh winner Feb. 11 when Centennial Farms' Litigate pounced late on the second turn, took command, and defeated longshot Groveland for a 1 1/4-length victory in the $250,000 prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve.
Litigate, a 3-year-old son of Blame, scored for the second time in three starts, racing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.83 on a rain-dampened main track still characterized as fast.
Litigate was among the least experienced runners in the 11-horse field for in the Sam F. Davis, though it did not show in his performance. After jockey Luis Saez eased him back off the pace when in second approaching the first turn, the colt settled into a comfortable rhythm on the outside in fifth as early leader Zydeceaux set splits of :23.92 and :47.94.
Zydeceaux still held the lead, chased by Groveland, after three quarters in 1:11.27, but at this point, Litigate was on the move, advancing into second. Knowing he had the leaders collared, Saez took a peek behind him and then began urging his mount forward. Litigate took over, and while appearing to idle while in front, safety kept a resolute Groveland at bay.
"The game plan was trying to break from the start and pick up some spots," Saez said. "He ran from there pretty well and when he came to the top of the stretch, I felt like I had a lot of horse and let him run free and keep going. I thought I had it. I had plenty of horse and he was running pretty nice. That was magnificent."
Pletcher said he was pleased with Litigate, who returned $7.60 to his backers for a $2 wager.
"He got a good position early and finished well," he said. "We thought he would appreciate two turns."
The top five finishers earned qualifying points toward the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, distributed on a 20-8-6-4-2 scale. Churchill Downs uses qualifying points as its preference system when the Derby draws more than its capacity field size of 20 horses.
Disappointing as the favorite was Grade 2 Remsen Stakes winner Dubyuhnell, who, after he was steadied in traffic early, ran without interest and finished eighth.
"The first turn was very rough, and I had to check really hard," jockey Jose Ortiz said. "After that, he never got back on rhythm. That took him out of the race."
Sam F. Davis participants often return in the $400,000 Grade 3 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, which is scheduled this year to be run March 11 at the Oldsmar, Fla., oval. Pletcher has trained five Tampa Bay Derby winners, though only Destin in 2016 also took the Sam F. Davis.
Pletcher's other Sam F. Davis winners were Vinceremos (2014), Brethren (2011), Rule (2010), Any Given Saturday (2007), and Bluegrass Cat (2006).
Eoin Harty, trainer of runner-up Godolphin's Groveland, also expressed satisfaction with his 3-year-old's performance, saying, "He doesn't quit. He digs in and I don't think distance will be a problem moving forward."
Litigate improved his earnings to $182,590 with Saturday's victory. Before the Sam F. Davis, he had been second in a Jan. 8 allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park after a debut maiden win Nov. 19 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
