The Kentucky Derby trail wound through Florida this past weekend with a stop at Tampa Bay Downs for the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes. The result was a thriller in which the two top betting choices, John Hancock and Owen Almighty, hooked up early and battled throughout, with the former narrowly besting the latter.

Coming up this weekend: a pair of preps, the Risen Star and the Sunland Derby.

WHAT HAPPENED: John Hancock (2.50-1) and Owen Almighty (2.60-1) hooked up in the early strides of the Sam F. Davis and battled for the entire distance. In mid-stretch, Owen Almighty appeared to inch ahead, but John Hancock, with Flavien Prat aboard, battled back to win by a half-length over that rival. Poster, last early, rallied into third while never a threat to the top pair.

John Hancock is trained by Brad Cox for CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC. The son of Constitution is two-for-two in his career.

WHAT THEY SAID: “It was his first time facing winners, it was the second start of his life, it was his first time going long,” Cox told Tampa Bay Downs publicity. “It was a lot to ask from a young horse. He took a lot of pressure and stayed on well. I’m very, very impressed with him.”

Added jockey Flavien Prat, “My horse was pretty aggressive going into the first turn, but he switched off nice on the backside. The both of us made a very good run turning for home, but my horse was very game after we got headed and came back.”

WHAT IT MEANS: John Hancock earned 20 Derby points for the win and is one of eight horses with 20 or more points. Citizen Bull is the leader with 60… Owen Almighty scooped up 10 points and now has 15, having also been runner-up in last fall’s Iroquois… Remsen winner Poster acquitted himself well, rallying smartly into third, and now has 16 points… Fourth-place finisher Camp Hale remains a maiden, winless in four starts, and has four points…

SAM F. DAVIS STAKES REPLAY

WHAT’S NEXT: Saturday brings the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds. A $500,000, Grade 2 contest offering 50 points to the winner, it has drawn a bulky field of 13. Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity winner East Avenue and last-out Gun Runner winner Built are among those expected to face the starter… Sunday’s $400,000 Sunland Park Derby offers 20 points to the winner. Nine are signed on, including Getaway Car, the 9-5 favorite for trainer Bob Baffert…

DERBY POINTS TOP 20 AND TIES