By Dick Downey

Battle Hardened, prominent throughout the running of the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes, came on in the stretch to win, breaking his maiden.

The Davis was straightforward through the backstretch. State of Play broke from post 1 and took the early lead, followed by longshot Fox Rules, Reveron and Battle Hardened. They took the field through splits of :23.79, :47.81 and 1:12.55.

Hitting the turn, State of Play began facing serious challenges as Reveron and Battle Hardened moved up on him and Prospective, who'd broken from the outside post 11, came charging widest of all.

Entering the stretch, State of Play was starting to falter, and Reveron took over, opening up a little space, and leading a then-fading Fox Rules by a half-length at  the furlong marker. But Battle Hardened wasn't done, and Prospective continued his late charge.

At the wire, Battle Hardened was best by 1 1/4 length, and Prospective got up at the last jump to nip Reveron by a nose. Ravelo's Boy, at odds of 69-1, came fourth, another nose back followed by Neck 'n Neck, Fox Rules, State of Play, Burning Time, Moraccan Brew, Holy Highway and Ecabroni.

Battle Hardened's time was 1:44.58. Julien Leparoux was in the irons.

At 9-2 odds, he returned $11.00, $5.60 and $4.40. The $2 exacta was worth $62.00, Prospective the 7-2 co-favorite with Ecabroni. The winner's share of the $200,000 purse was $120,000.

Battle Hardened entered the Davis winless in three starts, including a pair of two-turn races at Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park, for trainer Eddie Kenneally. After connections opted to race in Tampa and scratch from a maiden special weight today at Gulfstream, bettors hammered Battle Hardened down from a 12-1 morning line.

A son of Giant's Causeway owned by Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, Battle Hardened was bred by Lakeside Farm LLC in Kentucky. His dam is Jen's Fashion, by Northern Fashion.

Equibase chart

CONNECTIONS QUOTES

Eddie Kenneally, trainer of Battle Hardened: “This was a really good bunch of quality horses, but no stars, and that was one reason we decided to take a shot today. We had also entered him in a (maiden race) at Gulfstream today but he’s been training brilliantly and we were happy with how he was coming into the race, so we decided to come here and get some of the big money.

“We’ll definitely take a real good look at the Tampa Bay Derby and it’s very likely. He relaxed nicely in the thick of things today. He was in a group of horses in tight and he had plenty of reasons to back out of there if he wanted to, but he showed a little bit of gameness and a little bit of toughness like you want to see going forward to the bigger races down the road. He showed a little more professionalism. We knew when his races started to go longer he was going to be a better horse. Two-turn races are what he wants to do and he is very good at it and I feel he is an improving horse.”

Julien Leparoux on winner Battle Hardened: “He broke good and put me in the right spot right away. In a big field, I knew we’d be in traffic. So when he settled near the inside he relaxed the way I wanted him to. I was inside, inside and then on the second turn, I was able to get out and this horse has a long stride and he kept going. Eddie (Kenneally) told me to warm him up good and it went well. He was very professional. I knew he was a maiden, of course, but Eddie told me his last race was kind of like a win because he had a bad post and some bad luck. He ran big today.”

Mark Casse, trainer of runner-up Prospective: “You know, he ran really funny. I thought turning for home he was through, but Luis said as soon as (Battle Hardened) came outside him, he took off again. So if that can get him to try, he’ll be really good. We might make a few little changes and hopefully come back and try him again.”

Luis Contreras on runner-up Prospective: “The outside post didn’t help us a bit. He broke real well and I was able to take him back and settle in the middle of the field. He was relaxed and getting to the turn, when I asked him he put in a super run. I took hold of him again near the stretch because I didn’t want to go wide with him. Then there was an opening and he went through it like a good horse does. He closed very well for me in the stretch.”