Kentucky Derby Prep Sam F. Davis Stakes 2023 Field, Odds and Picks for Saturday, 2/11/23

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues and Tampa Bay Downs hosts the first of two Derby preps starting with the $250,000 Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday, Feb. 11. The top-5 finishers in the Sam F. Davis earn Kentucky Derby points (20-8-6-4-2) with the top 20 points leaders on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard earning a spot into the starting gate for the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

The Sam F. Davis is also a prep race for the March 11 Tampa Bay Derby (50-20-15-10-5), which is part of the Championship Series races with major qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A number of horses are worth watching and wagering on as these 3-year-olds continue to grow and develop in hopes of a chance to run in the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby.

With a good chance of rain showers in the forecast Saturday, be sure to monitor the weather and keep an eye on the track conditions.

FanDuel Racing has you covered for the biggest racing days and events. Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes is Race 10, and the 1 1/16 mile Grade 3 race has a post time of 5:18 p.m. ET.

Sam F. Davis Stakes Field and Odds

1. Wothington (20/1)

Jockey: Pablo Morales - Trainer: Mike Maker

2. Prairie Hawk (6/1)

Jockey: Samy Camacho - Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr.

3. Classic Legacy (12/1)

Jockey: Junior Alvarado - Trainer: Bill Mott

4. Laver (15/1)

Jockey: Jose Morelos - Trainer: George Arnold, II

5. Groveland (12/1)

Jockey: Daniel Centeno - Trainer: E. Harty

6. Classic Car Wash (20/1)

Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo - Trainer: Mark Casse

7. Dubyuhnell (9/5)

Jockey: Jose Ortiz - Trainer: Danny Gargan

8. Notah (30/1)

Jockey: Antonio Gallardo - Trainer: J. Terranova, II

9. Champions Dream (9/2)

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione - Trainer: Mark Casse

10. Dreaming of Kona (12/1)

Jockey: Scott Spieth - Trainer: Aldana Spieth

11. Litigate (5/1)

Jockey: Luis Saez - Trainer: Todd Pletcher

12. Zydeceaux (20/1)

Jockey: Samuel Marin - Trainer: Ramon Minguet

Sam F. Davis Pick

Following a winning pick in the Holy Bull Stakes, we turn to a potentially bigger payoff. Horse Racing Nation's Super Screener notes that in the past several editions of this race, a horse exiting a race from either Gulfstream Park or Churchill Downs has dominated.

The favorite Dubyuhnell is a son of two-time Grade 1 winner Good Magic, who also finished second in the 2018 Kentucky Derby. His grandsire is the great HOFer Curlin. Dubyuhnell won the Grade 2 Remson in December with a strong speed figure (101).

But the horses to consider at better odds as win contenders and add to your exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets are Litigate as well as longshots Laver and Classic Car Wash.

Litigate is conditioned by six-time Sam F. Davis-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. He won his debut despite a wide trip and moved up sharply to finish a game second last month at Gulfstream. Litigate is a son of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Blame and bred to go longer. He's got some razor-sharp workouts in place and should break towards the front with a pressing trip behind the dueling leaders and be ready to pounce down the stretch with top jockey Luis Saez riding.

Pick: Litigate (5/1)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.