On Time Girl in the Forward Gal, Coglianese Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Albaugh Family Stables homebred On Time Girl, impressive winner of her graded debut last month, chases a third straight stakes victory and further strengthening of her Kentucky Oaks (G1) standing in Saturday’s $225,000 Davona Dale (G2) presented by Inglis Digital USA at Gulfstream Park.
The 39th running of the Davona Dale for sophomore fillies going a one-turn mile on the main track is the sixth of nine stakes, eight graded, worth $2.025 million in purses on a blockbuster program anchored by the $425,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) for 3-year-olds on the road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).
Post time for the first of 14 races is 11:30 a.m. ET.
Named for the champion 3-year-old filly of 1979 that was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1985, the Davona Dale 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, only runner-up Imperatrice returns to challenge On Time Girl in the Davona Dale, which drew a solid field of nine.
“We’re excited about the opportunity,” stable racing manager and Dennis Albaugh’s son-in-law Jason Loutsch said. “We know she’ll run hard. Is it going to be good enough? We sure hope so. There hasn’t been a race where she’s thrown in a clunker 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 into the stretch, got caught late by A Fine Chardonnay but held second by a neck in her third start and stakes debut. On Time Girl avenged that defeat next out in the 6 ½-furlong Fern Creek over Thanksgiving weekend, winning by 3 ½ lengths as A Fine Chardonnay ran third.
“It’s been a lot of fun. She’s a length away from being undefeated. Every time she runs, she gives her all. I’m excited for Saturday,” Loutsch said. “It’s really been a progression. It’s been one of those things where every race, every week, every month she just keeps getting better and better.”
Reluctant to load in the starting gate, Brad Cox-trained On Time Girl settled down and stepped up in the Forward Gal to come from just off the pace and win with aplomb while matching a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 82 under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who returns to ride from outermost Post 9.
“She’s not the biggest filly in the world so Brad was always wondering how far she would want to run, but every question we’ve thrown at her she’s answered,” Loutsch said. “Visually I was so impressed by the way she won last time, incurring all the trouble that she had. The ride that Irad gave her was just tremendous, backing off and then coming down the stretch taking her to the outside and she went on with it.
“It was very impressive. Obviously, this weekend is a whole different animal. There’s some really good fillies in there. I’m very happy with her draw. There’s a lot of speed in the race and she’s so tactical, I think she’ll be able to sit wherever Irad wants her. She’s got that ‘on’ button that when it’s time to go she just takes off, like the last race. I think it’s going to be very important to get a good spot.”
Also representing Cox in the Davona Dale is LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing’s Paradise, a $700,000 daughter of Hall of Famer Gun Runner that will be making just her third start and first in stakes company. She is one of four horses in the field to already own a win at the course and distance, graduating by three lengths in front-running fashion Jan. 4. Edgard Zayas rides 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’ll have two chances to make it four, entering the duo of Imperatrice and She Be Smooth.
Woodland Way’s Imperatrice ran second in debut sprinting six furlongs last fall at Aqueduct, then capped her juvenile campaign with a one-mile maiden special weight triumph Dec. 13 at Gulfstream, leading all the way and repelling a late challenge to draw clear by 1 ¼ lengths. The City of Light filly bounced out of the race well enough to convince Pletcher to try the Forward Gal despite the cutback in distance, and she took a lead into the stretch before yielding late.
“I thought she ran well last time. I feel like she’ll appreciate the added distance,” Pletcher said. “It’s definitely encouraging that she’s already won over the track at the distance. I think she’s looking for two turns eventually. We just haven’t had that opportunity yet, but we’re looking forward to getting her stretched out a little further.”
Calumet Farm homebred She Be Smooth will be making just her second start in the Davona Dale off a 2 ¼-length debut triumph in a one-mile maiden special weight Jan. 23 at Gulfstream. Runner-up Prom Queen, stablemate of On Time Girl and Paradise, returned with an eight-length maiden romp going 1 1/16 miles Feb. 12.
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 very good debut that was flattered by Prom Queen coming back to win. It just felt like there wasn’t a lot of allowance opportunities so we figured we’d go ahead and see where we stand,” Pletcher said. “I’m pleased with the post positions for both of them. I think Imperatrice will be forwardly placed, and having drawn toward the outside with She Be Smooth gives Flavien the option to survey how the race is unfolding.”
Three-time defending Championship Meet leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. won last year’s Davona Dale with The Queen’s M G and returns 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 sprinting seven furlongs Nov. 9 at Gulfstream, she races for the first time since running 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 is going to help her,” said Joseph, who also won the 2020 Davona Dale with Tonalist’s Shape. “She’s going to have to improve, but the filly has always trained and acts like she’s a good horse, so hopefully she’ll run well on Saturday.”
Tyler Gaffalione has the riding assignment on My Miss Mo from Post 1.
“She won her maiden very impressively that day though the number didn’t come back fast,” Joseph said. “So far her numbers haven’t been as fast as what we’ve seen in the mornings, but I feel like the filly does have the ability and we’re hoping with the distance we’re going to see her true ability.”
JSM Equine’s Haute Diva, bred and owned by Joseph Minor, graduated going a two-turn mile on the turf last fall at Gulfstream and exits a determined neck victory at odds of 14-1 in the one-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 very good. We didn’t want to shorten her up for the last one because she needs to run longer than a mile. We considered a little bit going to Oaklawn, but we decided to stay home,” he said. “She’s going into the race good. We have been building her up slowly hopefully for a start in the Oaks in May if she’s good enough. We’re taking it step by step. It has taken her time to understand the business, but it seems that she understands very well now.”
Haute Diva will break from Post 6 with David Egan aboard for the third straight race.
CJ Thoroughbreds, Joey Platts and Old Bones Racing Stable’s Swing Vote is entered to make her third career start, all at Gulfstream. Favored in each of her first two, both going six furlongs, she ran third behind Omaha Bay in debut Dec. 28 before rallying for a one-length triumph Jan. 24 after breaking a step slow for the second consecutive time.
“She didn’t get off slow, she got left the first time. But hopefully the little stretch out is good for her,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “She’s good. She’s working well. She and [Fountain of Youth contender] Chief Wallabee breezed nicely together the other day.”
Junior Alvarado has the call from Post 7.
Completing the field are Jim Gladden’s Omaha Bay, whose lone start was a win over Swing Vote, and Ribble Farms and Deann Baer’s Blazing Brat, runner-up in the Sandpiper in her dirt debut.
