In time girl in the forward bile, Coglianese photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Albaugh Family Stables, homebred On time girlan impressive winner from her debut last month, chases a third straight win and strengthens her Kentucky Oaks (G1) position in Saturday’s $225,000 Davona Dale (G2) presented by Inglis Digital USA at Gulfstream Park.
The 39th running of the Davona Dale for second-year fillies running a one-turn mile on the main track is the sixth of nine stakes, eight valued, worth $2.025 million in purses on a blockbuster program anchored by the $425,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) for 3-year-olds en route to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).
Post time for the first of 14 races is 11:30 a.m. ET.
The Davona Dale, named for the 1979 three-year-old champion filly who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1985, offers 105 qualifying points for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks to the top five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis.
On Time Girl earned 20 points for her popular three-length score in the seven-furlong Forward Gal (G3) Jan. 31 at Gulfstream, her furthest race to date. Of her seven rivals that day, she only came second Empress returns to challenge On Time Girl in the Davona Dale, which attracted a solid field of nine.
“We are excited about this opportunity,” said Jason Loutsch, stable racing manager and son-in-law of Dennis Albaugh. “We know she’ll run fast. Will it be good enough? We certainly hope so. There hasn’t been a race where she’s gotten into trouble yet, so we’re excited about it.”
On Time Girl won three of four starts at 2, the only loss coming by a length in the six-furlong Myrtlewood at Keeneland, where she led down the stretch, was caught late by A Fine Chardonnay but finished second by a neck in her third start and stakes debut. On Time Girl then avenged that defeat in the 6 ½ furlong Fern Creek over Thanksgiving weekend, winning by 3 ½ lengths as A Fine Chardonnay finished third.
“It was a lot of fun. She’s far from undefeated. Every time she runs, she gives it her all. I’m excited for Saturday,” Loutsch said. “It’s really been progress. It’s been one of those things where every race, every week, every month, she’s getting better and better and better.”
Reluctant to load into the starting gate, the Brad Cox-trained On Time Girl sat down and mounted the Forward Gal to come from just off the pace and win with aplomb as he equaled a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 82 under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who returns to ride from the outer Post 9.
“She’s not the tallest filly in the world, so Brad always wondered how far she would like to run, but every question we asked her was answered,” Loutsch said. “Visually I was so impressed with the way she won last time, with all the problems she had. The ride Irad gave her was just amazing, backing up and then going down the stretch that took her out and she kept going with it.
“It was very impressive. This weekend is obviously a very different beast. There are some very good fillies there. I am very happy with her draw. There is a lot of speed in the race and she is so tactical, I think she will be able to sit where Irad wants her. She has that ‘on’ button where when it is time to go, she just takes off, just like the last race. I think it will be very important to get a good place.”
Cox also represents LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing’s in the Davona Dale Paradisea $700,000 daughter of Hall of Famer Gun Runner who will be making only her third start and first in stakes company. She is one of four horses in the field to have already claimed a victory over the course and distance, graduating in the lead by three lengths on January 4. Edgard Zayas drives back from Post 3.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Davona Dale three times, with Wait a While (2006), R Heat Lightning (2011) and Onlyforyou (2014). He gets two chances to make it four, with the duo Imperatrice and She Be Smooth.
Woodland Way’s Imperatrice ran second in his debut sprinting six furlongs last fall at Aqueduct, then capped her junior campaign with a maiden one-mile victory in the special weight Dec. 13 at Gulfstream, leading all the way and fending off a late challenge to remain clear by 1 ¼ lengths. The City of Light filly came out of the race well enough to convince Pletcher to attempt the Forward Gal despite the shortening of the distance, and she took a lead down the stretch before conceding late.
“I thought she ran well last time. I have a feeling she’ll appreciate the extra distance,” Pletcher said. “It’s certainly encouraging that she’s already won by distance on the track. I think ultimately she’s looking for two corners. We just haven’t had that opportunity yet, but we’re looking forward to stretching her a little further.”
Calumet Farm homebred She’s smooth will make only her second start in the Davona Dale on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream after a 2 ¼-length debut in a first one-mile special weight. Runner-up Prom Queen, stablemate of On Time Girl and Paradise, returned on February 12 with an eight-length girls romp of 1 1/16 miles.
Imperatrice drew Post 5 with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, while Flavien Prat rides She Be Smooth from Post 8.
“I thought it was a really good debut, which was flattered by Prom Queen’s return to win. It just felt like there weren’t many opportunities, so we thought we’d carry on and see where we are,” Pletcher said. “I’m happy with the post positions for both. I think Imperatrice will be moved to the front, and after moving to the outside with She Be Smooth, Flavien will have the opportunity to see how the race unfolds.”
Three-time defending champion Saffie Joseph Jr. won the Davona Dale last year with The Queen’s MG and returns on Saturday with Averill Racing, Mathis Stables and Tristan De Meric’s My Miss Mo, a Florida-bred daughter of champion Uncle Mo. A 12-length maiden special weight winner who sprinted seven furlongs Nov. 9 at Gulfstream, she is racing for the first time since finishing fourth in the six-furlong Sandpiper Dec. 6 at Tampa Bay Downs.
“Tampa was a disappointing result. She didn’t run the way we thought she would run. We feel like distance will help her,” said Joseph, who also won the 2020 Davona Dale with Tonalist’s Shape. “She will have to improve, but the filly has always trained and behaves like she is a good horse, so hopefully she will run well on Saturday.”
Tyler Gaffalione has the driving assignment My Mrs. Mo from message 1.
“She impressively won her first prize that day, even though the numbers didn’t come back quickly,” Joseph said. “So far her numbers are not as fast as what we saw in the morning, but I feel like the filly has the ability and we hope that with distance we will see her true ability.”
JSM Horses High divabred and owned by Joseph Minor, graduated from Gulfstream last fall with a two-turn mile on the grass and is coming off a determined neck victory at odds of 14-1 in the 1-mile Cash Run Jan. 1 on the main track. Not wanting to go back in distance, trainer Patrick Biancone opted to bypass the Forward Gal in favor of the Davona Dale.
“She’s doing really well. We didn’t want to cut her short for the last time because she has to run longer than a mile. We considered going to Oaklawn for a bit, but we decided to stay home,” he said. “She’s going into the race well. We’ve been building her up slowly, hopefully for a start in the Oaks in May if she’s good enough. We’re taking it one step at a time. It’s taken her time to understand the business, but it seems she understands it very well now.”
Haute Diva will break from Post 6 with David Egan on board for the third race in a row.
CJ Thoroughbreds, Joey Platts and Old Bones Racing Stables Swaying mood is registered to make her third career start, all at Gulfstream. She was favorite in each of her first two, both going six furlongs, and ran third behind Omaha Bay on her debut on December 28 before rallying for a one-length victory on January 24 after breaking a step slow for the second time in a row.
“She didn’t come off slow, she lagged the first time. But hopefully the little stretch is good for her,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “She’s good. She works well. She and.” [Fountain of Youth contender] Chief Wallabee had a nice swim together the other day.”
Junior Alvarado gets the call from Post 7.
Rounding out the field are Jim Gladden’s Omaha Bay, whose only start was a win at Swing Vote, and Deann Baer’s Ribble Farms and Blazing Brat, second in the Sandpiper in her dirt debut.
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