TAMPA BAY: FACT FINDING, McCRAKEN LOOK TO STAY PERFECT IN GIII DAVIS

By Rick Francis —-

Race 10) 1ˆ Mile. Sam F. Davis S. Grade III. Purse $250,000 (includes $50,000 Other Sources) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS Post Time: ( 4:45)/ 3:45/ 2:45/ 1:45 Daily Double / Exacta / Trifecta ($.50 minimum) / Superfecta ($.10 minimum) / Pick 3 ($.50 minimum) (Races 10-11-12) / Super High 5

McCraken; Coady Photography

1) State of Honor, Casse/Leparoux; in his first try on real dirt, To Honor and Serve colt battled gamely only to come up short in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. Blinkers on today, and with several quick on view don’t overlook for a board finish.

2) Kind and His Court, Casse/Boulanger; Court Vision gelding enters having won two straight; this will be his dirt debut, and for trainer Casse that’s a 13 percent angle.

3) Fact Finding, Pletcher/Velasquez; The Factor colt rolls in with a perfect 3-for-3 record, and with his last victory posted the field’s highest speed figure; Pletcher/Velasquez are 23 percent on the year.

4) Chance of Luck, Bennett/Allen; Skipshot colt owns a win and a last out second here along with first time blinkers for a trainer that’s batting 23 percent at the meet; class-test.

5) Six Gun Salute, Harty/Morales; Colonel John colt’s form in moving in the wrong direction, losing badly in his last two; that trend doesn’t change today.

6) Wild Shot, Arnold/Albarado; son of Trappe Shot has finished in the money in his last two, both Graded Stakes. His last effort came up just short to race fave McCraken, but jock change to Albarado is a plus; don’t discount.

7) Tapwrit, Pletcher/Ortiz, J; this “other” Pletcher trainee by Tapit also enters in top form having won his last two along with posting some strong speed figures; improving with each race.

8) McCraken, Wilkes/Hernandez, B; Ghostzapper colt dismantled the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club field in his last start; has rated perfectly in each start and his late kick makes him the one to beat.

9) No Dozing, Delacour/Centeno; out of Union Rags, colt also has proven his worth in big contests, missing a spot on the board by a head in the G1 Breeders’ Futurity, and a closing second last out in the Grade 2 Remsen; post however does him no favors.

Selections: 8, 3, 6, 7