Paladin secured victory in the G2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on December 6. Incredivolt triumphed in the G3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs on October 26. Leading the list of 45 three-year-olds entered in the $250,000, 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, February 7, is Zanny, a daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who won the G2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct on December 6.
The Sam F. Davis Stakes is the highlight of Tampa Bay Downs’ Festival Preview Day, which features four stakes races totaling $625,000 in purses. This race is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series, awarding qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale to the top five finishers for a spot in the May 2 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Other stakes on the card include the $125,000 Suncoast Stakes, a one-mile plus 40-yard race for three-year-old fillies and a qualifier for the Kentucky Oaks, now in its 46th running. The card also includes the 45th running of the $125,000 Minaret Stakes for fillies and mares four years and older over six furlongs, and the 42nd annual $125,000 Pelican Stakes for horses four years old and up, also six furlongs.
Trainer Brad Cox, who won last year’s Sam F. Davis with jockey John Hancock, has entered 10 horses, including stakes winner Commandment and highly regarded Cannonier. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, a seven-time Sam F. Davis winner, has seven runners in the race, including Zanny, who is also nominated for the Suncoast Stakes. Pletcher famously trained Rags to Riches, who won the 2007 Belmont Stakes against colts shortly after claiming the Kentucky Oaks, making Zanny’s campaign at Tampa Bay Downs one to watch.
Zanny dominated the Demoiselle by eight and a half lengths, improving her undefeated record to 2-2. Paladin is Chad Brown’s sole entrant in the Sam F. Davis; although he has not yet won this race, he did claim the inaugural Tampa Bay Derby for a domestic-bred in 2024.
Incredivolt, trained by Riley Mott, son of Hall of Famer Bill Mott (who won the Sam F. Davis with Candyman Rocket in 2021), is another notable contender. The Sam F. Davis serves as the key stepping stone toward the G3, $400,000 Esmark Tampa Bay Derby set for March 7.
Links to Sam F. Davis nominations and past performances are available here:
https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SN-TAM-20260207-598357
https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SNPP-TAM-20260207-598357
Similar to the Sam F. Davis, the Suncoast Stakes offers Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top five finishers (20-10-6-4-2) and has attracted 30 nominations. Brad Cox leads with eight nominees, among them Sneaky Good, winner of the Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay on December 6; Hit Parade, a three-time winner and daughter of 2007 Tampa Bay Derby and Kentucky Derby champion Street Sense, who recently won the Untapable Stakes at the Fairgrounds; Life of Joy, victorious in the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs on October 26; and On Time Girl, winner of the Fern Creek Stakes at Churchill on November 28.
Todd Pletcher entered three sophomore fillies in the Suncoast, including Zanny and Imperatoris, who won impressively at Gulfstream Park on December 13. Trainer Kent Sweezy brings Just Singing to the race—a daughter of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, who narrowly missed victory by one length in the G2 Goldenrod Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 29.
Suncoast Stakes nominations and past performances can be viewed here:
https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SN-TAM-20260207-598358
https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SNPP-TAM-20260207-598358
The Minaret Stakes boasts 21 nominees, including defending champion Nix Style, a six-year-old Florida-bred filly trained by Bill Mott, who also captured the G3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream in her next start. Nix Style holds a career record of seven wins and three seconds from 11 starts.
Riley Mott has two entries in Minaret: stakes-winning four-year-olds Her Ruff and Necessity. Trainer Safi A. Joseph Jr. enters four horses, including Mystic Lake, a five-year-old Florida mare with 10 career stakes wins, including 22 G2 victories; Hollin Ice, a five-year-old filly with two G3 titles; and four-year-old G2 winner Indy Bay.
Links to Minaret Stakes nominations and past performances can be found here:
https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SN-TAM-20260207-598364
https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SNPP-TAM-20260207-598364
The Pelican Stakes has 27 horses entered, featuring last year’s winner Nutella Fella, a five-year-old trained by Greg Sacco. Nutella Fella notably captured the G1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga in 2023 when trained by Gary Contessa.
Leading Oldsmar trainer Gerald Bennett, a three-time Pelican winner, has nominated five horses including last year’s Pasco Stakes winner Naughty Rascal, a three-time stakes winner four-year-old Florida gelding, and six-year-old Florida gelding Chrome Ghost, known for consistently placing in eight of nine stakes races last season.
Pelican Stakes nominations and past performance details are here:
https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SN-TAM-20260207-598365
https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SNPP-TAM-20260207-598365
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on January 28, 2026, and first appeared in the News section.
Fan Take:
This lineup of stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs, highlighted by the Sam F. Davis Stakes, represents an exciting early test for promising three-year-olds on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. With top trainers and elite prospects competing, these races provide a glimpse into the future stars of horse racing and add vital momentum to the sport’s most prestigious spring events.
