2026 Sam F. Davis Stakes: Win, place and trifecta picks from horse racing guru

The Todd Pletcher-trained Renegade will look to win for the first time when he leaves the starting gate in the 2026 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla. A $975,000 purchase two years ago, Renegade has two seconds and one third in three career starts. But he is coming off a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on Dec. 6. For Saturday he has been installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the 2026 Sam F. Davis Stakes odds. Confessional (2-1), Dr. Kapur (5-1), The Puma (6-1) and Ocelli (12-1) round out the top five favorites among the nine horses in the 2026 Sam F. Davis Stakes field. Post time for the Sam F. Davis Stakes 2026 is 5:30 p.m. ET.

Before locking in any 2026 Sam F. Davis Stakes bets, you NEED to see what longtime horse racing guru Jeff Hochman has to say.

Hochman has shown a profit in 22 of the past 39 Triple Crown races. One example of his best picks was Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby at odds of 2-1. More recently, he swept the 2022 Triple Crown, capped off by Mo Donegal's easy win in the Belmont Stakes. In 2023, he cashed the Preakness with National Treasure. In 2024, he successfully tabbed Straight No Chaser to win, place and show in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at odds of 3-2.

Hochman delivered exceptional handicapping results during the summer 2025 racing season at two of the country's premier tracks, Saratoga and Del Mar. His combined 65.7% win rate across the two tracks represents elite-level performance that significantly exceeds industry benchmarks for professional handicappers. Join here to see what he's picking for Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes.

While a slew of horses could hit the board in the 2026 Sam F. Davis Stakes, Hochman has studied the field and revealed his picks. 

One surprise: Hochman is completely tossing Confessional, even though he is the 2-1 second choice. Hochman is not including Confessional in any wagers.

However, Hochman's top pick is a horse with "class and proven stamina." He's also high on a longshot with "raw ability." 

You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses they are before making any 2026 Sam F. Davis Stakes picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Sam F. Davis Stakes? Which longshot is a must-back? And how has Hochman constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine now to get Jeff Hochman's 2026 Sam F. Davis Stakes picks, all from the expert who was red-hot at Saratoga and Del Mar last summer!