Feb 18, 2011
Brethren romps to victory in Sam F. Davis Stakes
By: SPORTS NETWORK
Oldsmar, FL (Sports Network) - Odds-on favorite Brethren, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, swept to victory Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in the 1 1/16-mile $225,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes The three-year-old colt covered the distance in 1:45.07 on a fast track.
The Davis is the first of two important stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on the road to the Kentucky Derby. The 32nd Tampa Bay Derby will be held on Saturday, March 12. Last year's Run for the Roses winner Super Saver was third in the 1 1/16-mile Derby and in 2007 Street Sense won the race prior to claiming the Kentucky Derby.
Brethren, a half-brother to Super Saver, stalked the pacesetter Ribo Bobo in the favorite's debut race of 2011. Dominguez, who earlier won the Florida Oaks, kept his mount just to the outside of the leader and then moved to the lead around the turn for home.
The 4-5 favorite remained well off the rail entering the stretch and easily outdistanced the competition in his stakes debut. Brethren hit the wire four- lengths ahead of runner-up Too Experience to remain perfect in three career starts.
"He won it like a good horse should," Dominguez said. "We set up and relaxed just off the lead in the first turn and I was able to wait down the backstretch. I asked him in the turn and he came away very nicely. I took a look on both sides in mid-stretch and there was nothing coming so I was able to wrap up on him going to the wire and out. The distance was no problem for him at all."
Coming in third in the 10 horse field was Watch Me Go, followed by Beamer, Monzon, Litigate, Ribo Bobo, Washington's Rules, Adulare and Reprized Hal
Owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher; Brethren earned $120,000 with Saturday's win and gave his connections their fourth victory in the race. Last year WinStar and Pletcher won the Davis with Rule. Pletcher also trains 2010 two-year-old champ Uncle Mo.
"I was very pleased," said Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm. "The thing I was most pleased about was that he didn't break well. He broke out, which typically happens on the outside post with a very young horse; and yet, he gathered himself and got into the race very quickly and settled down and got into a really nice rhythm."
Brethren has total earnings of $187,368 and was ridden by Dominguez for the first time.
Brethren returned $3.80, $3.20 and $2.80. Too Experience paid $16.80 and $9.20, and Watch Me Go paid $10.20 to show.
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