Battle Hardened took over the lead in deep stretch and held off a number of late challenges to win the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) this afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs.
Ridden to victory by Julien Leparoux, the Eddie Kenneally-trained colt settled into fourth along the fence early on as State of Play set the pace. He was being tracked by 99-1 shot Fox Rules, with Reveron on the outside in third. Moraccan Brew was back in fifth, followed by Holy Highway, Ravelo's Boy, Prospective, Ecabroni, Neck 'n Neck, and Burning Time.
The early pace was moderate, with State of Play leading the charge through an opening quarter mile in :23.79 and a half-mile in :47.81. The Team Valor colt continued to lead the way around the far turn, but as the field approached the homestretch Reveron moved up to take over the lead. However, Battle Hardened had been guided to the outside by Leparoux and was coming on strongly to take over the lead. Prospective appeared to be going nowhere fast after being hung wide throughout, but somehow managed to find another gear in the stretch that carried him into contention late. But no one was able to catch Battle Hardened, who stayed on strongly to win the mile and a sixteenth event in 1:44.58.
Prospective edged out Reveron for second, while Ravelo's Boy came on to be fourth. Neck 'n Neck, Fox Rules, State of Play, Burning Time, Moraccan Brew, Holy Highway, and Ecabronie completed the order of finish.
-Keelerman
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