Z Humor Eager For Sam F. Davis: 78 days until the Kentucky Derby!

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43652 ^ | February 14, 2008 | Jason Shandler

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Z Humor, a gutsy dead-heat winner in the Dec. 7 Delta Jackpot (gr. III), and Smooth Air, who captured the Jan. 5 Hutcheson (gr. II) but will stretch out beyond seven furlongs for the first time, lead a field of nine in the $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 16 at Tampa Bay Downs. The 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis is a test for 3-year-olds on the dirt.

One of five Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) hopefuls trained by Bill Mott, Z Humor is a well-bred son of Distorted Humor--Offtheoldblock, by A.P. Indy. After breaking his maiden at Saratoga last summer, he was immediately tested in graded stakes competition, finishing third in both the Sapling (gr. III) and the Champagne (gr. I), where he stayed on stubbornly to take money behind War Pass and Pyro.

After finishing fifth on a sloppy track in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), the bay colt returned to the winner’s circle in the 1 1/16-mile Delta Jackpot. Mott was impressed with how Z Humor not only ran, but came out of that race.

“He’s been doing very well since then,” Mott said. “He’s getting stronger and training eagerly. In fact, the way he’s been acting, he needs this race. It’s not something where we are pushing him.

“(In the Jackpot) he made the lead early and was really the only horse involved in the early pace that finished well. He gutted it out and held on well on a dead racetrack. So that’s encouraging.”

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$200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (Race 10, 4:52 p.m.), Three-Year-Olds, 1 1/16-Miles (Dirt)

PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey

1. Wise Answer (FL), 122, Jose Lezcano

2. Celtic Meal (FL), 116, Andrew R. Ramgeet

3. Wonder Mon (MD), 116, Travis L. Dunkelberger

4. Fierce Wind (KY), 116, Cornelio H. Velasquez

5. Dynamic Wayne (IL), 116, Pablo Morales

6. Big Truck (NY), 116, Eibar Coa

7. Smooth Air (FL), 118, Manoel R. Cruz

8. Z Humor (KY), 122, Garrett K. Gomez

9. Honey Honey Honey (FL), 120, Jose E. Lopez

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http://www.drf.com/row/pps/08TAMsamfdavis.pdf

Loved Smooth Air in the Hutcheson. This could set up pretty well for him.

For amusement only.

[penowa]

Thanks so much for the form.

[gate2wire]

You’re welcome.
Looks like a cold exacta-Z Humor and Smooth Air.
Ya never know though.

[ottbmare]

Do we HAVE to say “the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands”? I will be damned first.

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Won’t hear me say that either.