Dylan Davis, looking to capitalize on his career-best performance in 2024, will move his tack to Gulfstream Park beginning Jan. 1, he and his agent said Sunday.
Davis said trainer Mark Casse initially brought up the idea of Davis going to Florida to ride the winter meet at Gulfstream and, after discussing it with his agent, Mike Migliore, Davis said the decision was made to do it.
“Mark Casse asked us to fly down on the winter break here and ride a couple of stakes and he threw it in our court where he would support us if we were to come down full time,” said Davis, who will ride the Grade 1-winner Win for the Money for Casse in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes on Dec. 21. “That got Mike and I thinking about maybe it being a possibility to go down.
“We had to figure the pros and cons, but continuing to ride turf horses we thought we were going to lose and keep our name in the minds of the big barns,” Davis added. “I think it’s the right move, take a chance, January to March, it’s only a few months, but I think it’s a risk I got to take. We got to keep this momentum going. If it doesn’t work out then I can always come back to Aqueduct.”
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With five weeks remaining in 2024, Davis has already achieved personal single-year bests in wins (196) and purse money won ($15,183,508). He entered Sunday’s card ninth nationally in both categories.
Davis has won 25 stakes, 10 of which were graded, including the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby aboard Carson’s Run. Davis is booked to ride Carson’s Run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar.
Entering Sunday’s card, Davis led all riders on the New York Racing Association circuit in wins (193) and purse-money won ($14,194,610). He enjoyed a stellar Saratoga meet with 36 wins, tied for third in the standings, and he was the leading rider at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet with 44 wins. Davis was the leading rider at the Aqueduct winter meet with 54 wins. His 16 wins place him atop the Aqueduct fall meet standings 11 days into the 31-day session.
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