The Sam F. Davis Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.

History The event was named after the industrialist Sam F. Davis who in 1972 became President of the Florida Downs and Turf Club and worked to make the track successful. Davis retired in 1980 with the track renaming itself to Tampa Bay Downs.

The following year the Turf Club inaugurated the event on 28 February 1981 in honor of Sam F. Davis over the distance of one mile and seventy yards with the Robert E. Van Worp Jr. owned and the Robert E. Van Worp Sr. trained Croziers Ace defeating eight other starters with a winning margin of lengths in a time of 1:45. Two of the starters, Ironical and Jealous Count fell when they were impeded by the second-placed finisher Rightorwron who was disqualified and placed last.

In 1982 the distance of the event was increased to miles. The event was run in split divisions in 1984 with both winners shipping in from Miami. In 1985 the distance of the event was deceased to a seven furlong sprint before reverting to the miles the following year.

From 1986 until 1995 the Breeders' Cup offered incentives for horses nominated to the Breeders' Cup that ran in the event and this reflected in the name of the event.

The scheduling of the Sam F. Davis has made it a logical prep race for the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby which is usually held one month after. In 1987 the winner of the event, Phantom Jet proceeded to win the Tampa Bay Derby.

The event was classified Listed for the first time in 2004 and was upgraded to Grade III in 2009 which headlines Tampa Bay Downs' Festival Preview Day.

Since 2013 the event has been part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and frequently produces starters in that race.

In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.

Records Speed record: 1:42.27 – John Hancock (2025)

Largest Winning Margin: lengths – San Gennaro (1999)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – John R. Velazquez (2006, 2007, 2010, 2016)

Most wins by a trainer: 8 – Todd A. Pletcher (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2023, 2026)

Most wins by an owner: 6 – WinStar Farm (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2025)

Sam F. Davis Stakes – Tampa Bay Derby double: Phantom Jet (1987), Speedy Cure (1991), Marco Bay (1993), Thundering Storm (1996), Burning Roma (2001), Destin (2016), Classic Causeway (2022)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026RenegadeIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherRobert & Lawana Low & Repole Stable miles1:43.54$210,000Listed2025John HancockFlavien PratBrad H. CoxChina Horse Club & WinStar Farm miles1:42.27$200,000Listed2024No More Time Paco LopezJose D'AngeloMorplay Racing miles1:43.26$200,000III2023LitigateLuis SaezTodd A. PletcherCentennial Farms miles1:44.83$200,000III2022Classic CausewayIrad Ortiz Jr.Brian A. LynchKentucky West Racing & Clarke M. Cooper miles1:42.80$200,000III2021Candy Man Rocket Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottFrank Fletcher Racing Operations miles1:44.30$200,000III2020Sole VolanteLuca PaniciPatrick L. BianconeReeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone, & Limelight Stables miles1:42.60$200,000III2019Well DefinedPablo MoralesKathleen O'ConnellStonehedge miles1:42.70$250,000III2018FlameawayJose LezcanoMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley miles1:42.44$200,000III2017McCrakenBrian Hernandez Jr.Ian R. WilkesWhitham Thoroughbreds miles1:42.45$200,000III2016DestinJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherTwin Creeks Racing Stables miles1:43.67$200,000III2015Ocean KnightIrad Ortiz Jr.Kiaran P. McLaughlinStonestreet Stables miles1.43.74$201,500III2014VinceremosEdgar S. PradoTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm & Twin Creeks Racing Stables miles1:47.34$200,000III2013Falling SkyJose L. EspinozaJohn P. Terranova II Newtown Anner Stud miles1:44.79$202,500III2012Battle HardenedJulien R. LeparouxEddie KenneallyMichael Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier miles1:44.58$200,000III2011BrethrenTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm miles1:45.07$207,500III2010RuleJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm miles1:44.15$200,000III2009General QuartersJames LopezMark L. MillerThomas R. McCarthy miles1:43.54$221,000III2008Fierce WindCornelio VelasquezNicholas P. ZitoFour Roses Thoroughbreds miles1:44.13$200,000Listed 2007John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm miles1:44.27$146,000 Listed 2006Bluegrass CatJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm miles1:44.17$121,000 Listed 2005Andromeda's HeroRafael BejaranoNicholas P. ZitoRobert V. LaPenta miles1:46.63$100,000 Listed 2004Kaufy MateRamsey ZimmermanKirk ZiadieGregory Kaufman miles1:44.60$100,000 Listed 2003White BuckRoger I. VelezJerry P. ParadiseOlga Paradise miles1:45.47$50,000 2002Bunk N TedDerek C. BellKenneth B. WirthDanny Hutt miles1:49.86$50,000 2001§ Burning RomaJuan UmanaHeather A. GiglioHarold L. Queen miles1:45.20$50,000 2000Go Lib GoRobert C. LandryKenneth G. McPeekRaymond H. Cottrell miles1:44.84$35,000 1999San GennaroPedro A. RodriguezRichard J. Ciardullo Jr.Richard J. Ciardullo Sr. miles1:45.54$27,675 1998Dabney CarrKevin WhitleyMy Jolee Stable, Patrick & Elizabeth Everard miles1:46.20$28,075 1997Wilt the TiltCyndi SmithMichael Douglas Smith miles1:46.00$28,475 1996Thundering StormJorge A. GuerraDon R. RiceDeborrah Artz miles1:47.60$25,000 1995AkibaSantos Noe ChavezSonny HineScott Savin miles1:47.40$43,925 1994Parental PressureJack M. LauzonFred H. LoschkeHammer Kopf Farm, J. Corrente & Partners miles1:47.40$52,850 1993Marco BayRonald Dale Allen Jr.Sarah A. LundyJay Shaw miles1:45.60$52,175 1992RandyHerson A. SanchezAngel Raphael RosadoMartin Haft miles1:46.40$51,050 1991§ Speedy CureRicardo D. LopezHarvey CulpSusan B. Fisher miles1:47.80$31,300 1990Fiery BestManuel A. SantosJose A. MendezFred Berens & Solomon Garazi miles1:46.00$53,750 1989Papa LeonardRobert WoodhouseJoseph I. LosenJoseph I. Losen miles1:46.80$37,100 1988House AccountDean KutzThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm miles1:46.80$20,100 1987Phantom JetK. Keith AllenPhilip A. GleavesAisco Stable miles1:45.20$17,760 1986Fellow's LadyRamon SagardiaCharles MirandaAnthony Fernandez miles1:47.40$22,000 1985Tamao's GrayRuben A. HernandezCurtis N. SpencerA.J.W. Stable7 furlongs1:27.00$19,800 1984Morning BobMiguel A. RiveraBrushwood Stable miles1:47.00$9,250 D. WhiteJose A. Velez Jr.Frank A. AlexanderFrank A. Alexander & Kevin Miller1:46.40$9,1501983SavertonKevin WirthGlenn S. WismerOrville & Mary M. Zimmerman miles1:47.40$12,400 1982Tampa Bay BuckHeriberto Rivera Jr.Arnold W. FinkJohn Spencer miles1:47.80$11,830 1981Croziers AceBrian L. MillsRobert E. Van Worp Sr.Robert E. Van Worp Jr.1 mile & 70 yards1:45.40$17,145

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

See also Road to the Kentucky Derby List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Tampa Bay Downs Media Guide 2021

References