McLean’s “Bonus Coverage” Selections For Tampa Bay — Sam F. Davis Stakes Day
Days Picks
9 / 2-2-5
2026 Overall — 117
117 / 40-33-46
Win % of Top Pick
34.18%
Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall
33.90%
2026 Top Pick in the Money Overall — 69-117
58.97%
2026 Top Pick in the Money @ TP Winter 69-117
58.97%
2026 Top Pick Wins @ TP Winter 40-117
34.18%
2026 “Key Horses” @ TP Winter 9/1-1-2
11.11% Win / 44.44% ITM
2026 “Key Horses” Overall — 891-1-1
11.11% Win / 44.44% ITM
(Stats need to be updated with this week’s results)
Here’s our looks at the Tampa Bay card, starting with Race # 4 and running through the Sam F. Davis Stakes at the end of the program. The Sam F. Davis is the key prep for the Tampa Bay Derby and a start, for some, on a possible road to the Kentucky Derby.
Today’s Picks:
A
B
C
Minaret Stakes
4
1-4
6-2
5
Suncoast Stakes
5
5-3
4
8
6
6-2-3
9
10
7
7-2-11
10-4
8-5
8
7-2-1
6
5-9-10-11
9
1-5-12
13-7-14
9-8-7-11-4
Pelican Stakes
10
3-6-4
9
8-2-7-5
Sam F. Davis
11
9-6-1
5-3-2-7
4
Betting Strategy:
Betting Strategy
4
1 bet 1 Win / Key 1 o/u all / more on under
5
I bet 5in upset over 2-5 ML fav / 5-3 Both Stakes Winners / 3 Speed
6
I bet 6 WP / Double Down on 6 / Box 6-2-3 / Key 6 o/u 2-3-9-10
7
I bet 7-11 WPS / Box 7-2-11/ Key 7-11 o/u 2-10-4
8
I bet 7 WPS / Box 7-2-1 / Key 7-2 o/u 1-6-5-9-10-11
9
I bet the 1-5 WPS / Box 1-5-12 / Key 1-5-12 o/u 13-14
10
I bet 3-6 WPS / Box 3-6-4 / Key 3-6 o/u 4-9
11
I bet the 9 WPS / Key 9 over/under 6-1-5-3-2-7 (more on 6-1-5)
Comments:
Comments
4
1 lost to 4 last time out / No excuses / 5-1-1 in 7 @ distance
5
5 Has Work to do to overcome G2 winner with speed / But capable
6
6 is Gun Runner who sold for $1.1M / Sharp works / Aggressive rider
7
7 slight edge / 2-2 with Lasix / 11 gets huge rider switch
8
7 ran huge at GP last out / 2-1-1 in 4 starts at distance
9
1-5 are first timers / But Chad Brown is hot 2-2-0 in 5 here
10
Saffie Speedster won 2 in row before Oaklawn debacle / rebound
11
9 is pure speed & that normally carries here / Big Threat
Good Luck & All the Best / Gene
Gene McLean began his professional career in 1977 as a sportswriter and columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., and was recognized as one of the state’s best writers, winning the prestigious “Sportswriter of the Year” honor in 1985. Now the President and Publisher of The Pressbox, McLean sets the vision for the site and still finds time to handicap races, interview trainers and keep his finger on the pulse of the industry, More About Gene.
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