The Brian Lynch-trained Classic Causeway can establish himself as one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby when he leaves the starting gate in the 2022 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Fla. A son of Giant’s Causeway, Classic Causeway has one win in three career starts. He is coming off a second place finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 27 and is listed as the the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the 2022 Sam F. Davis Stakes odds. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Make It Big is getting 9-2 odds in the 2022 Sam F. Davis Stakes field, while the Dale Romans-trained Howling Time is 5-1.
Post time for the $250,000 Sam F. Davis is 4:54 p.m. ET. With a wide-open field of lightly-raced horses set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you’ll want to see what racing insider and Beyer Speed Figure maker Bob Weir has to say before making any 2022 Sam F. Davis Stakes picks.
A Saratoga Springs-based racing insider, a Beyer Speed Figure maker and a two-time qualifier for the prestigious National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas, Weir has produced multiple five-figure days at the track over the years, including a $60,000 Pick 6 at Del Mar in 2014.
Last year he was on fire. He hit the exacta in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, Tampa Bay Derby and Peter Pan Stakes, the trifecta in the Risen Star Stakes, Blue Grass Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby and the superfecta in the Belmont Stakes, with the Tampa Bay score returning $1,414. Those were just some of his scores in 2021.
And two weeks ago he nailed the trifecta in the Pegasus World Cup.
Now, he has handicapped the 2022 Sam F. Davis field, made his picks and constructed his bets. You can only see them here.
Top 2022 Sam F. Davis predictions
One surprise: Weir is high on Kitten Mischief, even though he is a 12-1 long shot. A son of influential sire Into Mischief, Kitten Mischief won his career debut on Nov. 12 at Aqueduct. He followed that performance with a second in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 9.
Both of his races have come around one turn; Saturday’s race will be his first time around two. “He has a lot to prove, but I suspect he will appreciate the two turns,” Weir tells SportsLine. Weir will be using Kitten Mischief in his trifecta wagers.
How to make 2022 Sam F. Davis picks, bets
Weir’s top pick is a horse who is coming off “two pretty good efforts.” He also is high on another double-digit long shot who “should have every opportunity to run late.” Weir is including these horses in his 2022 Sam F. Davis Stakes bets, and so should you. He’s sharing which horses to back only at SportsLine.
So what horse wins the Sam F. Davis Stakes 2022? What double-digit long shot is a must-back? And how has Weir constructed his wagers? Check out the latest Sam F. Davis Stakes odds 2022 below, then visit SportsLine to see Weir’s picks for the Sam F. Davis Stakes.
2022 Sam F. Davis Cup odds, contenders, horses, lineup
| 1 | Mr Rum Runner | 20-1 |
| 2 | Unpredictable Boy | 20-1 |
| 3 | Classic Causeway | 3-1 |
| 4 | Golden Glider | 12-1 |
| 5 | God of Love | 10-1 |
| 6 | Trademark | 15-1 |
| 7 | Make It Big | 9-2 |
| 8 | Shipsational | 6-1 |
| 9 | Howling Time | 5-1 |
| 10 | Volcanic | 12-1 |
| 11 | Strike Hard | 6-1 |
| 12 | Kitten Mischief | 12-1 |
| Also eligible: | ||
| 13 | Little Vic | 15-1 |
