Fleet-footed and locally based Morning Fire (Friesan Fire) will look to carry his speed around two turns for the first time while facing rivals from several high-profile barns in Tampa's GIII Sam F. Davis S. Saturday. Second in a pair of restricted stakes at Parx late last year, the chestnut resurfaced in this venue's seven-furlong Pasco S. Jan. 23, and turned in a sharp front-running performance to earn his first stakes victory and a career and field-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure. This will be his first attempt beyond seven eighths, but experience over the local strip has proven an advantage here before. “I've been looking forward to stretching him out, and it will be interesting to see how he handles it,” offered trainer Keith Nations. “It's always a good thing to play in your own backyard and not have to ship, and I think [the Pasco victory] will benefit him… If he handles the distance and gets a good trip, I think he should fit well with those horses.” Todd Pletcher, who owns a record five Davis trophies, saddles a pair of runners in search of number six. Gettysburg (Pioneerof the Nile) failed to overcome a rough start when unveiled at Belmont Oct. 29, but checked in a well-beaten third behind stablemate Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday) in Hallandale Dec. 12. He was most recently seen dictating terms and drawing off in a nine-furlong affair Jan. 9. Pletcher's other runner is Destin (Giant's Causeway), who donned cap and gown first up at Belmont Oct. 11 before being upset at 3-10 in a one-mile Gulfstream optional claimer Dec. 18. He was fourth last time in the GIII LeComte S. at Fair Grounds. Graham Motion trainee Rafting (Tapit) was last seen annexing Gulfstream Park West's Smooth Air S. Nov. 28, while Mark Casse pupil Whatawonderflworld (Tiz Wonderful) wheels back off short rest, having scored a third-straight victory in the restricted OBS Championship S. Jan. 26.
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