A dozen for Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Oldsmar, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - A field of 12 3-year-olds has been entered for Saturday's $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, the final local prep for the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.

Starting from the rail post in the 1 1/16-mile race will be stakes-winning colt Catalina Red with Daniel Centeno again riding. The chestnut colt will be making his 3-year-old debut for owner Anthony A. Lenci and trainer Chad Stewart.

Catalina Red has won his last two starts, both stakes at Tampa Bay, after failing to find the winner's circle in his first three starts. 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 and set 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."

Catalina Red comes into Saturday with earnings of $74,680.

Stewart will also saddle Bandages in the Davis with Ron Allen Jr. riding from post 6.

"(The Sam F. Davis) is going to be a huge step up for Bandages, but he acts like he wants to go two turns," Stewart said.

Bandages, owned by World Thoroughbred Racing, opened his career on Dec. 6 at Tampa Bay with a third and three weeks later at the track won for the first time as the 13-10 favorite.

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

The Sam F. Davis has an approximate post time of 5:20 p.m. ET. The race has produced at least one Kentucky Derby starter in 10 of the last 11 years.