The Davis Stakes [KYD]
TAM Race #9 1 1/16m Dirt Stake
Purse $250.000 For Three Year Olds.
1 Inevitable Strike Mb Stables Curtis B 120
Well, the GOAT has certainly been putting all before him so far this year and showed last week just why you have to take every runner from the yard very seriously. This son of Tactical may not have been in stakes race yet but with two wins from four starts and a very impressive all the way win last time his chances are obvious. Working like most of the stable right in the window at this time of year and running from the ace where he will get an easy on speed trip, I would imagine him to be tested early and still be strong late. He does have something to prove at this level and the class gene is not guaranteed but there are a lot of positives about him.
2 Keep Away Alydar Stables Castillo I 120
Another stable that has become very much part of the top chances in the top races they bring this one race winning home-bred here with a very different map to the horse inside him. Likely to go back he will need some race engine luck to find a way home, but he was eye catching late in the Smarty Jones last time and if things work out, he could be gaining hard down the stretch. The draw will certainly help after being really wide in the Smarty Jones and taken too far back by the AI, he will be handier this time and no doubt be launching from a better position. In a race full of chances, with some luck he has as good a chance as any.
3 Southwind Acber Farms Ortiz J L 120
Genuine stakes type he has form on the board at this level, so the class gene won’t be a question mark like it is for some. He has yet to go beyond seven furlongs, but he has been a little one paced in recent sprints so he may be crying out for a little further. A good third in the San Vicente last time and a string work since puts him right in the reckoning for this if he sees out the trip.
4 Up To No Good Riggins Racing Geroux F 120
We are more used to seeing this stable bring horses on pretty slowly to this level, but this busy colt has been running at the top level from pretty much the beginning of his career. His form is a little inconsistent but that is typical of these two- and three-year-old races but on his close third in the grade one Champagne he would be a very strong winning chance. The inconsistency is mainly born from his late running style, with the engine and the AI finding it difficult to overcome traffic problems, but when he gets it right his turn of foot can be breathtaking. In the Jerome last time he made a ton of ground, a far better effort than his last in the BC Juvenile but not as good as his great run in the Champagne before that. I think you can see where I am going here: Race engine luck would see him very close to winning, no race engine luck, he could be last. Take your pick.
5 Meekshallinherit Big Jd Racing Rodriguez Jam 120
There is no doubt the on-pace runners have the advantage of avoiding traffic problems, but they also have the disadvantage of being susceptible to late finishers as this one was in the Jerome last time. It looked as if he was going to go on and win that race as he took the lead into the stretch but the inevitable happened off a strong pace and he was beaten a half-length. Make no bones though that was a big run and I see no reason he won’t be right in the finish again today with probably the best exposed form in 2026 for a race like this.
6 Hulk D J C Racing Stables Hernandez R M 120
He was unbeaten leading into the CAC Derby in January, but his race experience let him down that day and he ended up sixth. A look at his outstanding works tells you that he is better than that and I would go so far to say that he could be the stable’s best chance of a KYD runner should he get a better run here. I really like this one.
7 Credit Criminal Aer Stables Ortiz I Jr 120
Put his inexplicable effort on the Grey Stakes behind him with a good third in the Mucho Macho Man last time running on speed and just fading close home. The draw is sticky for an on-pace runner, but it is the same one he went from last time so I would expect a repeat of that effort. His works show good pace so I guess his final best distance is still a bit uncertain, but he will certainly be a big part of this contest throughout.
8 Haggis Glory The Sidley Stud Morales P 120
Things went a bit wrong for this son of Ginger Haggis in his last two starts after a strong win in the Iroquois. As I have said before as a late closer his form will always have an inconsistent look about it compared to an on-speed runner and his weak efforts in the Breeders and the BC can probably be attributed to that. He has had consistent bad luck with the draw monster which very often is a bit of a tell at this level so I am finding it hard to see him winning. Having said that as a grade three winner and trained by one of the best in the game it would be impossible to write him off.
9 Do Deuce Williams9 Pinto M 120
We are used to seeing this trainer on these big races now, but they do tend to throw them in the deep end a bit and that may be the case here. His only win and best race in the Dania Beach last time both came on turf so it is hard to line him up on the main track and going on his works at least he may have a bit to find. Could be a pace influence from this wider draw.
10 Angel In Command Mb Stables Santana R Jr 120
There is always something exciting about an unbeaten horse and it clearly excited our top trainer too as they went to $200.000 to secure this one and add it to their stable that is already brimming with talent. Two from two and both off the front he is a strong worker and clearly has plenty of talent and a running style that will match the draw and the race engine. A winning chance of course and bound to be right in the thick of things at the sharp end of this race a win here would catapult him into a strong fancy for the KYD.
11 Starbright TwinTowersRacing Bridgmohan S X 120
An expensive purchase from Fractious after a good maiden win his subsequent and last race would not have impressed his new owner. A very poor last in an optional claimer looked too bad to be true in his only start for the new stable and the buyer’s remorse will only be eased if this one can put in a strong effort today.
12 Knowing Spirit Mountain View Stable Rodriguez A R 120
A stakes winner at two and a decent worker his run into second in an optional claimer last time doesn’t look good enough on the face of things but that effort saw a final race time markedly quicker than the Jerome so it may be better than it looks on paper. He has gone on speed from a wide draw and gone back so the key here may be in the picking of which gaming button to check. He could be good enough if this plays out in his favor and may be worth a Disney Dollar each way.
SUMMARY
These races are always difficult but tend to go one of two ways. Either an on-speed horse gets a lead into the straight and holds on as other on pacers weaken and block the closers, or the closers get gaps or come wide and one of the late finishers get up.
So, I like to choose my best on speed horse and my best closer as a rule, however, in this race there is a standout for me who may just sit mid pack and get first run on everything. That horse is Hulk and if he turns green down the stretch and pushes everything aside, he could be our winner.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded