Quoting from the article by Frank Angst over at Bloodhorse.com:
Tampa Bay Downs is offering a $1 million bonus payout in 2014 to the owner of any horse sweeping the track's Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III), Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), and Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
The "Tampa Bay Downs Million Dollar Derby Bonus" is in addition to the regular purses for the $250,000 Sam F. Davis, which is Feb. 1, the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby March 8, and the May 3 Kentucky Derby.
Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby for owner WinStar Farm after finishing third in the Tampa Bay Derby, while Street Sense won the 2007 Kentucky Derby for owner James Tafel after capturing the Tampa Bay Derby in record time.
Additionally, the Tampa Bay Derby is part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, awarding 50 points to the winner, 20 to the runner-up, 10 for third place and 5 for fourth place. Points go toward determining which 20 3-year-olds are eligible for the Kentucky Derby.
Had the "Tampa Bay Downs Million Dollar Derby Bonus" been in effect in 2006, WinStar Farm's Bluegrass Cat would have come close to taking home the prize. After winning the Sam F. Davis, he finished second in both the Tampa Bay Derby and the Kentucky Derby. In 2009, Musket Man, owned by Eric Fein and Vic Carlson, finished third in the Sam F. Davis, won the Tampa Bay Derby and was third in the Kentucky Derby.
Horses that have won both the Sam F. Davis and the Tampa Bay Derby include Phantom Jet in 1987; Speedy Cure in 1991; Marco Bay in 1993; Thundering Storm in 1996; and Burning Roma in 2001. None of the five competed in the Kentucky Derby.
"The Sam F. Davis and the Tampa Bay Derby both came into being in 1981, so it seems a natural fit to combine them for purposes of the bonus," [general manager Peter] Berube said. "There have been several years when the Tampa Bay Derby winner had not run in the Davis, but we hope the bonus makes both races, as well as our $100,000 Pasco Stakes on Jan. 4 for 3-year-olds, part of a logical progression on the road to Louisville."
The key part of Berube's quote in the above paragraph is "both races", with the emphasis on "both".
See, when Churchill Downs issued its "Road to the Kentucky Derby" series for 2014, it made a few changes from the 2013 road. One race (the Lexington) had its points structure changed. Two races were added to the series: the Iroquois (won by Cleburne last month) and the Jerome. And four races were taken completely off the road: the Royal Lodge; the CashCall Futurity; the Derby Trial; and (here it comes) the Sam F Davis.
So with no Kentucky Derby qualifying points to give to the top finishes of the Sam F Davis, the good people running Tampa Bay Downs decided to keep the contest a relevant part of the Kentucky Derby chase by offering the above referenced million dollar bonus. Which, in my humble opinion, is a terrific marketing move. Since the Sam F Davis is a key prep for the Tampa Bay Derby (which remains a part of the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" series) any defections from that event would surely hurt Tampa Bay Downs' main event, the eight and a half furlong Tampa Bay Derby. The million dollar bonus will keep the Sam F Davis / Tampa Bay Derby tandem relevant to the connections of 2014's promising three year olds. And, as history has shown, the probability of any horse sweeping the trio of those two events plus the Kentucky Derby and actually collecting the million dollar bonus is, well, rather unlikely.
So, again, a good showing by the folks in charge of Tampa Bay Downs, and good news for those who enjoy playing that track during the Winter months, as it should help ensure healthy, competitive fields for their top three year old stakes.
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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