GOD OF LOVE, a finalist and probable winner of Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in Canada at the Sovereign Awards, gets his sophomore campaign underway at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, February 12 in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. The Davis is worth $250,000 and is race 10 on a stakes-filled card at Tampa Bay.
(*Fun fact, the 6-year-old gelding GOD OF LOVE (Adore the Gold) is a favourite in the ‘Department Trophy’ feature at Caymanas Park in Jamaica on Feb. 13)
The flashy chestnut God of Love (Cupid-No Wonder by Three Wonders), bred by the late Bill Graham and owned by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, is 10-to-1 in the field of 12 (with one also eligible).
Mark Casse, trainer of God of Love, had initially wanted to send the colt from Palm Meadows training centre in Florida to the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct last weekend, but he re-routed the colt to Florida because of wintry weather.
God of Love won the Grade 3 Grey Stakes on Tapeta and the Cup & Saucer Stakes on turf at Woodbine in 2021. He has trained extensively on the dirt getting ready for his first try on the surface.
Casse also starts Canadian-owned GOLDEN GLIDER, a Kentucky-bred colt owned by Manfred and Penny Conrad. The Ghostzapper chestnut is unbeaten in two races including an allowance win at Tampa on Jan. 7.
The competition to this pair is stiff: CLASSIC CAUSEWAY, trained by Brian Lynch, was third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last year; MAKE IT BIG is undefeated in three races for trainer Saffie Joseph and SHIPSENSATIONAL won two straight New York-bred stakes races last fall.
God of Love is one of three Canadian-breds currently nominated to the American Triple Crown along with MESSIER and ELDON’S PRINCE.
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs #10, post time: 4:54 p.m. EST
SAM F. DAVIS S.-GIII, $250,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 Mr Rum Runner Uncaptured Lanes Mark Racing Stable and Pate, Danny Biancone Maragh 118
2 Unpredictable Bay Cairo Prince Barlas, Ted, Barlas, Jean and Barlas, Chris Ali Quinonez 118
3 Classic Causeway Giant’s Causeway Kentucky West Racing LLC and Cooper, Clarke M. Lynch Ortiz, Jr. 118
4 Golden Glider Ghostzapper Conrad Farms Casse Gallardo 118
5 God of Love Cupid Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Barber, Gary Casse Hernandez 122
6 Trademark Upstart BBN Racing, LLC Oliver Centeno 122
7 Make It Big Neolithic Red Oak Stable Joseph, Jr. Ortiz 122
8 Shipsational Midshipman Iris Smith Stable, LLC Barker Castellano 122
9 Howling Time Not This Time Albaugh Family Stables LLC Romans Talamo 122
10 Volcanic Violence Breeze Easy, LLC Casse Gonzalez 118
11 Strike Hard Flashback Miracle’s International Trading, Inc. Williams Reyes 118
12 Kitten Mischief Into Mischief Augustin Stable Thomas Franco 118
13 Little Vic Practical Joke Victoria’s Ranch Avila Lopez 118
Breeders: 1-J. F. Webb, 2-Brereton C. Jones, 3-Kentucky West Racing LLC & Clarke M.Cooper Family Living Trust, 4-Nursery Place & Dicken Equine, 5-William D. Graham, 6-Brereton C. Jones, 7-SHH Ventures, 8-Mr. & Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone, 9-Springhouse Farm, 10-Don Alberto Corporation, 11-Gary & Mary West Stables, Inc., 12-George Strawbridge Jr., 13-Stride Sales and Syndicate
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