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Pasco Stakes winner Dynamic Sky headlines a 10-horse field in Saturday’s Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes.
The improving Ontario-bred 3-year-old is owned by Oklahoma oilman John C. Oxley, who campaigned 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. Oxley and Casse teamed to win both the Pasco and Grade II Tampa Bay Derby last year with Prospective.
Luis Contreras, who rode Prospective in each of his 2012 starts at Tampa Bay Downs, has the assignment on Dynamic Sky.
Dynamic Sky will seek his third stakes victory from six lifetime starts. He won the $200,000 Simcoe Stakes as a 2-year-old in September on Woodbine's synthetic surface.
Dynamic Sky finished second last year in the Grade I Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, also run on synthetic track, before heading west for the Grade I Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. He finished sixth, beaten 5 1/4 lengths behind Shanghai Bobby.
The seven-furlong Pasco Stakes was Dynamic Sky’s first effort as a 3-year-old. In the Davis, Dynamic Sky will run as a wagering entry with the Oxley-owned and Casse-trained Northern Lion. A $625,000 purchase, Northern Lion broke his maiden by 5 1/2 lengths going 1 1/16 mile at Gulfstream Park on Dec 22. Patrick Husbands has the riding assignment.
Among Dynamic Sky’s opponents in the Davis will be a pair of familiar faces, Speak Logistics and Divine Ambition.
Stakes winner Speak Logistics, from the barn of leading south Florida trainer Edward Plesa, Jr., will make his 3-year-old debut. He last raced in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, finishing seventh after prompting the early pace. Leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Angel Serpa will ride Speak Logistics.
Divine Ambition, trained by Darrin Miller, ran a strong third in the Pasco in only his third career start. Divine Ambition will be ridden by former Tampa Bay Downs leading jockey Willie Martinez.
The other Davis entrants with their trainers and jockeys include:
--Stakes-placed My Name Is Michael, trained by William Mott and to be ridden by Joel Rosario;
--Falling Sky, trained by John Terranova, II with Luis Saez in the saddle, and also entered in the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream;
--Lightning Stone, trained by William Allyn, with Danny Coa named to ride;
--Silver Day, trained by William Kaplan with Marcelino Pedroza aboard;
--Balino, trained by Bernell Rhone, Nik Goodwin riding;
--Supplemental entry Midnite Poppa, from the barn of Nick Zito, Jose Lezcano up.
Festival Preview Day marks the first time in the 87-year history of Tampa Bay Downs that three graded stakes will be contested on one day. The Grade III Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies and the Grade III Endeavour Stakes for older fillies and mares will both be run on the turf course.
Edited Tampa Bay Downs release with additional content by Dick Downey
@DowneyProfile
Saturday, R11 Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes
Tampa Bay Downs
$250,000
1 1/16 Mile
Dirt
Post Time: 5:23 ET
Post
Horse
ML
Jockey
Wt
Trainer
1
Silver Day (KY)
M. Pedroza
116
W. Kaplan
2
Divine Ambition (KY)
W. Martinez
116
D. Miller
3
My Name Is Michael (KY)
J. Rosario
116
W. Mott
4
Speak Logistics (FL)
A. Serpa
120
E. Plesa
5
Lightning Stone (NY)
D. Coa
116
W. Allyn
6
Northern Lion (FL)
P. Husbands
116
M. Casse
7
Balino (FL)
N. Goodwin
116
B. Rhone
8
Falling Sky (PA)
L. Saez
116
J. Terranova
9
Dynamic Sky (ON)
L. Contreras
116
M. Casse
10
Midnite Poppa (KY)
J. Lezcano
116
N. Zito
Coupled entries: Northern Lion, Dynamic Sky
Owners: 1 - Pinnacle Racing Stable and William A. Kaplan ; 2 - Silverton Hill LLC ; 3 - Wachtel Stable, Barry Butzer and Dominion Bloodstock ; 4 - Hardaway Stables, Inc. ; 5 - Adirondack Rose Thoroughbreds ; 6 - John C. Oxley ; 7 - Vivi Serena ; 8 - Newtown Anner Stud, Covello, James and Bulger, Joseph ; 9 - John C. Oxley ; 10 - My Meadowview Farm
Breeders: 1 - Sally J. Andersen; 2 - Shelby Lane Farm & Divine Park Syndicate; 3 - Sun Valley Farm; 4 - Centaur Farms, Inc.; 5 - Melissa Grimm; 6 - Reata Thoroughbred Racing; 7 - Joe Serena & Vivi Serena; 8 - Copper Penny Stables LLC; 9 - Arosa Farms; 10 - My Meadowview LLC