Ocean Knight gets nod as Sam F. Davis Stakes favorite

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Oldsmar, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Ocean Knight, who will be making just his second career start, is the 5-2 morning line favorite for Saturday's $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Davis Stakes is the final local prep for the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7 and has drawn a field of 12 3-year-olds.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Ocean Knight will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 11 for owner Stonestreet Stable. Ortiz was aboard when the colt won his debut start at Aqueduct Dec. 13 as the 2-1 favorite.

Starting from the inside post will be 4-1 second choice Catalina Red with Daniel Centeno again riding. The chestnut colt is owned by Anthony A. Lenci and trained by Chad Stewart.

Catalina Red won his last two starts, both stakes at Tampa Bay, after failing to find the winner's circle his first three career efforts. He won the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay by 7 1/4 lengths on Dec. 6 and three weeks later took the $100,000 Pasco as the 3-5 favorite, setting a track record for seven furlongs in 1:21.40.

"He came out of the Pasco in good shape, and he's ready to go," said Stewart. "He is just a very smart horse. He stays relaxed, he doesn't show a lot of emotion and he likes his job."

The 9-2 third pick is Ami's Flatter who will be ridden again by Luis Contreras from post 3. The colt, bred in Ontario, is owned by Ivan Dalos and trained by Josie Carroll.

Ami's Flatter won his debut race at Woodbine on Nov. 9 and began 2015 with a second at 13-1 to Bluegrass Singer on Jan. 3 in Gulfstream Park's Mucho Macho Man Stakes.

Here is the field for the Sam. F. Davis from the rail out: Catalina Red, Daniel Centeno, 4-1; Royal Son, John Velazquez, 8-1; Ami's Flatter, Luis Contreras, 9-2; Crittenden, Fernando De La Cruz, 15-1; Divining Rod, Luis Garcia, 20-1; Bandages, Ron Allen Jr., 20-1; Brother Bobo, Gabriel Saez, 20-1; G Five, Rajiv Maragh, 10-1; My Johnny Be Good, Antonio Gallardo, 6-1; Coomer, Julien Leparoux, 20-1; Ocean Knight, Irad Ortiz Jr., 5-2 and Bears Personality, Edgar Prado, 20-1.

The Sam F. Davis has an approximate post time of 5:20 p.m. ET.