2025 Sam F. Davis Stakes Results

Exotic Payoffs:

• $1 Exacta (5-6) Paid: $26.30
• $0.50 Trifecta (5-6-10) Paid: $331.15
• $0.10 Superfecta (5-6-10-12) Paid: $504.82

Watch the 2025 Sam F. Davis Stakes

History of the Sam F. Davis Stakes

The Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) is a 1 1/16 mile race for 3-year-olds held at Tampa Bay Downs in early February. The race offers a purse of $250,000 and is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby with the winner receiving 20 qualifying points. The 2017 race had Kentucky Derby points for the first time since 2013, and the race drew its strongest field in years and offered more betting interest and competition. Still, the favorite McCraken won the 2017 Sam F. Davis in a then-record time of 1:42.45 coming from more than four lengths off the pace at the three-quarter pole (McCracken's reign was short lived as the 2018 edition winner Flameaway beat his time by 1/100th of a second!). Runner up Tapwrit, at 9-1 odds, finished 2nd and he went on to win the 2017 Belmont Stakes.

McCraken’s off the pace style and win was in contrast to 2016 winner Destin, who pressed the pace just off the leader. Both those horses went on to run in the Kentucky Derby. But no Sam F. Davis winner has ever won a Triple Crown race. Destin came closest, losing the 2016 Belmont Stakes by a nose.

Among other notable winners of the Sam F. Davis Stakes that helped it improve its status were Bluegrass Cat (subsequently runner-up in the Kentucky Derby) and grade one winner Any Given Saturday.

The Sam F. Davis Stakes is also an important lead-up to the Tampa Bay Derby, usually held a few weeks later. Classic Causeway was the last to complete the double in 2022; others to do so were Phantom Jet (1987), Speedy Cure (1991), Marco Bay (1993), Thundering Storm (1996) and Burning Roma (2001), and Destin (2016).

Historical Results of the Sam F. Davis Stakes