Kentucky Derby Prep Races: “Poster” the Unbeaten

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Kentucky Derby Prep Races Odds and News

“Poster” Headlines Competitive Sam F. Davis Field

The 2025 Kentucky Derby Prep Races continue this weekend with a crucial stop at Tampa Bay Downs, where the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes will serve as the final points race before the high-stakes qualifiers begin next week. 

With Kentucky Derby betting heating up, this race presents an opportunity for three-year-olds to earn points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and solidify their status as serious contenders.

As Kentucky Derby odds fluctuate based on performances in these prep races, the Sam F. Davis could significantly shape the field for the first Saturday in May. The event, which offers a 20-10-6-4-2 point distribution to the top five finishers, has yet to produce a Derby winner, though past participants such as Tapwrit (2017 Belmont Stakes winner) and Knicks Go (2021 Horse of the Year) have gone on to impressive careers.

Sam F. Davis Stakes: “Poster” Leads Competitive Field

Trainer Eoin Harty’s undefeated colt “Poster” is expected to headline the Sam F. Davis field as he seeks to extend his perfect record to four wins in four starts. 

Owned by Godolphin, the son of Munnings started his career with maiden and allowance victories on turf before transitioning to dirt for the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, where he narrowly defeated his rivals in a gutsy performance.

“Poster” will face several promising three-year-olds, including Owen Almighty, who initially finished first in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs before being disqualified to fifth due to interference. Brian Lynch trains the Speightstown colt and will look to redeem himself in this Derby prep.

Other contenders include Treaty of Rome, who finished second in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park last month for trainer Chad Brown, and Dr. Ruben M, a Doug O’Neill trainee who was fourth in the Remington Springboard Mile. 

Naughty Rascal, the official winner of the Pasco Stakes, also joins the field, bringing a strong resume as a Florida-based contender.

Other Stakes to Watch on Derby and Oaks Trails

Tampa Bay Downs

The undercard at Tampa Bay Downs features another significant race in the Kentucky Oaks qualifying series—the Suncoast Stakes—which awards points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale to the top five finishers. The standout filly in the race is La Cara, a daughter of Street Sense trained by Mark Casse. 

She already has 13 Oaks qualifying points, having won the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs before finishing a distant fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.

Casse has given La Cara a three-month layoff, and she’ll face stiff competition in her return. Italian Soiree, who finished second in the Adirondack Stakes last summer, will look to regain form after two off-the-board finishes in graded stakes on turf. Dancing Magic, who recently won the Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, also enters in top form.

Bayakoa Stakes

Oaklawn Park’s Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes will showcase older fillies and mares. Corningstone, a five-year-old trained by Kenny McPeek, will try to win her third consecutive stakes race after leading gate-to-wire in the Pippin Stakes. 

The field also includes Loved, a Godolphin homebred making her first start of the year for trainer Brendan Walsh after winning the Falls City Stakes (G3) on a muddy track at Churchill Downs. Another notable entry is Free Like a Girl, a six-year-old mare with over $2.1 million in earnings who is making her 48th career start.

San Marcos Stakes

Meanwhile, the Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes features a competitive field of older turf horses at Santa Anita. Among them is Easter, a seven-year-old gelding trained by Phil D’Amato. Easter was on a three-race winning streak heading into 2024 but failed to hit the board in his last five starts. 

There Goes Harvard, a Grade 1 winner in 2022, is another intriguing entry, looking to return to form after finishing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Atitlan, a four-year-old trained by John Shirreffs, is stretching out to 1 1/4 miles for the first time.