Tampa Bay Downs

WinStar Farm and CHC's John Hancock turned in a gritty performance to win the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs by a half-length over Owen Almighty.

A strong performance by local hopeful Naughty Rascal in the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs could result in the colt advancing to the track's annual showcase event, the March 8 Tampa Bay Derby (G3).

J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

The graded-placed Owen Almighty, disqualified from victory in the Jan. 11 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs due to interference, aims for his first route success in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 8 at Tampa.

Chad Brown and Flavien Prat showed the Tampa Bay Downs crowd exactly why they were voted winners in their respective 2024 Eclipse Award categories, sweeping both graded stakes races on the Feb. 1 card with Running Bee and Saffron Moon.

Trainer Juan Arriagada, who currently ranks second in wins at the Tampa Bay Downs meeting, will be suspended for 15 days for a controlled medication violation.

There's no horse with better form than Paradise Farm's Paros heading into the Feb. 1 $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T). The spunky Cairo Prince gelding has captured his last six starts, each time stepping up in class.

Tampa Bay Downs will conduct six stakes races on the first two Saturdays in February, with track officials hopeful of attracting a number of top horses in training.

One of Tampa Bay Downs' most popular promotions, the "Live It Up Challenge" online handicapping contest, begins Jan. 18 and runs through March 8, the date of the 45th running of the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3).