I'm going to load about 10-12 things on here for tomorrow's race. I may or may not make picks here, as I may buy into a tourney instead of doing the para-mutual thing...........but check back around 2:30PM tomorrow for everything. This is the lone Kentucky Derby prep race of the day.
Sportsline 1st......
Now, Demling has evaluated Saturday's big race at Tampa Bay Downs, which has a 5:15 p.m. ET post time. He's released his entire leaderboard and locked in his picks for the exotics.
We can tell you he's not high on Five Star General, one of the top contenders at 4-1 odds. Five Star General cruised to a big stakes win at Aqueduct in August and has been flying around the track in training this week, but Demling isn't as impressed with his successes compared to other horses.
"Both races he's won were taken off the turf, so the horses he beat were turf horses running on dirt," Demling told SportsLine. "I'll pass." In fact, Demling has the horse with the second-best odds finishing near the back of the pack.
Instead, Demling is extremely high on a longshot with the background to put it all together. He knows this horse has all the tools to win the Sam F. Davis Stakes and shock the racing world. Anyone who follows Demling's advice could hit it BIG once again.
Here is Demling's writeup for Saturday's race:
A field of 10 3-year-olds is set for the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.
The 1 1/16-mile test is a prep race for the Tampa Bay Derby and has been a race in recent years that has produced some stellar horses on the Triple Crown trail and beyond, including 2017 Belmont winner Tapwrit and 2018 Wood Memorial winner Vino Rosso.
The Sam F. Davis will be the 3-year-old debut for Grade 1 winner Knicks Go, who will be the favorite in the race. Also in the field is Still Dreaming, a half-brother to 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, and So Alive, who is trying to help trainer Todd Pletcher win his seventh Sam F. Davis.
The race is slated for a 5:15 p.m. ET post time. Here's a full rundown (post position in parenthesis):
(8) So Alive (5/1) - The son of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver has won at this track and should show enough improvement to beat this bunch; trainer Todd Pletcher has been in a bit of a slump with his 3-year-olds and that's not going to last long.
(3) Knicks Go (5/2) - Had a really good 2-year-old season and is going to be a factor in the Triple Crown races, but this is his 3-year-old debut and won't be as sharp as he will be later in the spring.
(6) Kentucky Wildcat (9/2) - Was torn because two horses he beat in his last start have come back to win races; but am going to take a wait-and-see attitude with this one. He's talented but I just like the other two better in this spot.
(10) Still Dreaming (15/1) - Would love to see the half-brother to Nyquist make noise on the Derby trail, but not ready to jump all in with the Graham Motion-trained colt until I see more from him in his third start.
(9) Well Defined (8/1) - The likely pace setter in this race but he's not going to last.
(5) 6. Moonster (30/1) - Has been beaten by double digit lengths four races in a row, but trainer Dale Romans was second with a 99-1 shot in the Holy Bull last week so can he do it with another long shot.
(4) 7. Cave Run (6/1) - A horse with some talent, but will need to really show a lot of improvement to hit the board.
(7) 8. Five Star General (4/1) - Both races he's won were taken off the turf, so the horses he beat were turf horses running on dirt. I'll pass.
(1) 9. Counter Offer (12/1) - Broke his maiden on the turf, looks like he might be better suited for that surface.
(2) Going for Gold (20/1) - Scratched from the Holy Bull last week; this is an easier spot but this horse is still a maiden.
EXOTICS PICKS
$1 EXACTA 8 with ALL ($9)
$0.50 TRIFECTA 8 with 3,6,9,10 with ALL ($16)
$0.10 SUPERFECTA 8 with 3,6,9,10 with ALL with ALL ($22.40)
$0.10 SUPERFECTA 3 with 6,8,9,10 with 6,8,9,10 with ALL ($8.40)