Gulfstream Park will be the toast of the thoroughbred horse racing world this weekend when as Saturday card is highlighted by three consecutive graded stakes races for sophomore runners. Kicking off the fabulous three is the Davona Dale Stakes (gr.2) for three-year-old fillies where leading Kentucky Oaks contender Dancinginherdreams makes her second start of the year.
A field of nine is entered for the Davona Dale and four of the nine all made their last start in the Forward Gal Stakes (gr.2) at Gulfstream Park on January 30th. Pomeroy’s Pistol broke her maiden at first asking last year before finishing 5th in the Sorority Stakes and 3rd in an allowance race to finish out 2010. She began 2011 with a solid second place finish behind Final Mesa in the Old Hat Stakes (gr.3), finishing ahead of fellow Davona Dale Stakes entrant Roxy Gap. In the Forward Gal Stakes (gr.2) Pomeroy’s Pistol opened up a two length advantage at the top of the stretch after leading most of the way and held off a late charge by Dancingingherdreams to win by ¾ of a length. She has recorded only one work since the Forward Gal Stakes, going 3 furlongs in 36.50.
Dancinginherdreams will be making only the fourth start of her career in the Davona Dale. After winning the first two starts of her career by more than 10 combined lengths, including a 5 ¼ length romp in the Pocahontas Stakes (gr.2), Dancinginherdreams turned in one of the best sophomore losing efforts of the year in the Forward Gal Stakes. Racing towards the rear of the field in the Forward Gal, Dancinginherdreams raced into the stretch 7 wide and proceeded to gun for Pomeroy’s Pistol on the lead. She closed with incredible power and focus to make up almost 10 lengths on the winner, never feeling the whip to get that close. She enters the Davona Dale off a fabulous 4 furlong bullet work at Palm Meadows Training Center in 47.90, more than 3 seconds faster than her 4 furlong work on January 20th.
R Heat Lightning was a big disappointment in her 2011 debut, finishing a dull fourth in the Forward Gal Stakes after receiving a perfect stalking trip throughout. Last year R Heat Lightning won the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes before finishing out the year with a second place finish behind Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Awesome Feather in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Dancinginherdreams may have recorded thebullet work for 4 furlongs on February 21st but R Heat Lightning recorded the 2nd fastest 4 furlong work the next day, going the distance in 47.50, even faster than Dancinginherdreams.
Evil Queen finished third in the Forward Gal Stakes after winning two consecutive races to finish out her 2010 campaign. She finished ahead of R Heat Lightning in the Forward Gal and even though R Heat Lightning was obviously not performing at the same level she did in her last three starts of 2010 she is still a top class filly and a worthy competitor. Evil Queen proved she can run well in graded stakes company but unless she improves by leaps and bounds she will not be winning on Saturday.
Roxy Gap started the year in the Old Hat Stakes (gr.3) after going undefeated in three starts in 2010. After trailing the field in second to last position for most of the race in the Old Hat, Roxy Gap swung wide into the stretch and set her sights on Final Mesa and Pomeroy’s Pistol, closing well to finish about five lengths behind Pomeroy’s Pistol for third. Her three works since the Old Hat have been decent but far from excellent.
Bellaridge last finished 5th in the Sweetest Chant Stakes, far behind a victorious Kathmanblu after defeating Hailey d’Oro in an allowance race at Churchill Downs in late November. She turned in a nice 5 furlong work on February 18th at Gulfstream Park, finishing in 1:01.00.
Oh Carole is undefeated in two starts, the last coming in a 2 ½ length allowance victory at Gulfstream on January 30th. Her works have been very average and she takes a huge step up in class in the Davona Dale. She will have to move up significantly to make an impact in the top three spots Saturday.
Mending Hearts and Hot Summer complete the field. Mending Hearts has raced three times, never finishing worse than third but taking all three tries to finally break her maiden. Hot Summer has won two consecutive races coming into the Davona Dale, a maiden and an allowance race.
This year’s Kentucky Oaks comes down to just two fillies for me at the moment; Kathmanblu and Dancinginherdreams.
Dancinginherdreams should easily win the Davona Dale on Saturday. Her works have been superb, her trainer John T. Ward is brimming with confidence and she will only improve off her huge run in the Forward Gal Stakes. She looks like the complete package from where I am sitting, this filly has the potential to go all the way this year.
The two toughest competitors to Dancinginherdreams should come from a much improved R Heat Lightning and Pomeroy’s Pistol. As long shots go Roxy Gap stands out above the rest as well as Evil Queen, both fillies have proven their Stakes worthiness.
Showing posts with label Davona Dale Stakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Davona Dale Stakes. Show all posts
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Zito Dials the Correct Number: Dialed In, Switch and Pomeroy's Pistol
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito may have been the topic of some skepticism and outright derision when he entered maiden winner Dialed In in the Holy Bull Stakes but after Sunday’s outcome he has emerged a genius.
Facing an experienced and far more accomplished field of runners in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, 3-year-old colt Dialed In with jockey Julein Leparoux in the irons turned the race into a rout. Dropping well back of the field after the break, Dialed In was content to sit far off the pace set by Black N Beauty and Ribo Bibo. Rating just off the pace was Mucho Macho Man in perfect striking position while Sweet Ducky was moving well just behind. Coming off the turn Mucho Macho Man briefly took the lead before succumbing to the rally of Sweet and Ducky while from far back Dialed In came closing like an express train. Moving up on the rail Dialed In flew into the stretch and found the inside path blocked by the frontrunners. Leparoux guided him to the outside to make his bid as they charged down the homestretch and Dialed In Responded emphatically. Grinding his way forward inch by inch, it appeared he might just make it to the wire in front by a hair. With the finish looming close he suddenly switched gears and mowed down the remaining few frontrunners, bursting to the lead under a vigorous hand ride to win going away by 1 ½ lengths in a solid time of 1:35.19 for the one turn mile.
Sweet Ducky fought off Gourmet Dinner for second while Mucho Macho Man finished fourth.
With a performance like this Dialed In will certainly earn his way towards the top of many Derby lists and with the $240,000 in graded earnings he has pretty much assured himself a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
Trainer Nick Zito was exuberant after the race saying, “He’s very special, I’ve never had a horse do this, go from a maiden special race to jump in and win a race like the Holy Bull.”
Now undefeated in just two starts, Dialed In finds himself with the most impressive Derby prep win of the year so far but there are still many questions left to answer. Chief among those questions is whether or not the gifted colt can win going two turns in a classic distance race.
[caption id="attachment_1065" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="Switch"]
[/caption]
Switch certainly didn’t leave any doubt as to who will be leading the filly and mare sprint ranks this year as the 4-year-old filly absolutely demolished her opposition in the Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita, winning her second consecutive Grade 1 race by more than 3 lengths Sunday.
Always in contention while sitting just off the pace, Switch glided up on the outside of horses navigating the turn and took the lead halfway around without the slightest encouragement from jockey Joel Rosario. Sweeping off the turn already a length clear of the field, Switch rolled down the stretch increasing her advantage with casual ease, needing only slight urging from Rosario until she was 3 ½ lengths clear and coasting under the line.
The 7 furlong Santa Monica marks her 5th win in 12 lifetime starts and Switch is now perfectly positioned to mount a powerful 2011 campaign. Trainer John Sadler stated after the race that he plans on running the talented filly 6 or 7 times this year.
Pomeroys Pistol took advantage of a swift front-running pace to post a wire to wire upset in the Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park Sunday, defeating highly touted Dancinginherdreams and Grade 1 winner R Heat Lightning.
In her first start since winning the Pocahontas Stakes in late October, Dancinginherdreams turned in an impressive performance in the Forward Gal after being handed the worst of it that left her just ¾ of a length short at the wire.
Falling far off the pace shortly after the break, Dancinginherdreams swept into the turn 6 or 7 wide and mounted a furious rally to catch the leaders. Charging hard down the grandstand side the striking gray filly steadily ate away at Pomeroys Pistol’s lead but fell short at the wire. It was a promising performance she turned in after only two lifetime starts and should sharpen her up nicely for a comeback in the Davona Dale Stakes on February 26th if that is her connections plan.
The winner was resolute in holding off the Grade 2 winning Dancininherdreams but appeared tired in the final strides to the wire. She started the year with a second place finish in the Old Hat Stakes (gr.3) over Gulfstreams strip and fully used that familiarity to her advantage, now some time will be given before a decision is made on whether to run in the Davona Dale or give her more time to recuperate.
Facing an experienced and far more accomplished field of runners in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, 3-year-old colt Dialed In with jockey Julein Leparoux in the irons turned the race into a rout. Dropping well back of the field after the break, Dialed In was content to sit far off the pace set by Black N Beauty and Ribo Bibo. Rating just off the pace was Mucho Macho Man in perfect striking position while Sweet Ducky was moving well just behind. Coming off the turn Mucho Macho Man briefly took the lead before succumbing to the rally of Sweet and Ducky while from far back Dialed In came closing like an express train. Moving up on the rail Dialed In flew into the stretch and found the inside path blocked by the frontrunners. Leparoux guided him to the outside to make his bid as they charged down the homestretch and Dialed In Responded emphatically. Grinding his way forward inch by inch, it appeared he might just make it to the wire in front by a hair. With the finish looming close he suddenly switched gears and mowed down the remaining few frontrunners, bursting to the lead under a vigorous hand ride to win going away by 1 ½ lengths in a solid time of 1:35.19 for the one turn mile.
Sweet Ducky fought off Gourmet Dinner for second while Mucho Macho Man finished fourth.
With a performance like this Dialed In will certainly earn his way towards the top of many Derby lists and with the $240,000 in graded earnings he has pretty much assured himself a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
Trainer Nick Zito was exuberant after the race saying, “He’s very special, I’ve never had a horse do this, go from a maiden special race to jump in and win a race like the Holy Bull.”
Now undefeated in just two starts, Dialed In finds himself with the most impressive Derby prep win of the year so far but there are still many questions left to answer. Chief among those questions is whether or not the gifted colt can win going two turns in a classic distance race.
[caption id="attachment_1065" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="Switch"]
[/caption]Switch certainly didn’t leave any doubt as to who will be leading the filly and mare sprint ranks this year as the 4-year-old filly absolutely demolished her opposition in the Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita, winning her second consecutive Grade 1 race by more than 3 lengths Sunday.
Always in contention while sitting just off the pace, Switch glided up on the outside of horses navigating the turn and took the lead halfway around without the slightest encouragement from jockey Joel Rosario. Sweeping off the turn already a length clear of the field, Switch rolled down the stretch increasing her advantage with casual ease, needing only slight urging from Rosario until she was 3 ½ lengths clear and coasting under the line.
The 7 furlong Santa Monica marks her 5th win in 12 lifetime starts and Switch is now perfectly positioned to mount a powerful 2011 campaign. Trainer John Sadler stated after the race that he plans on running the talented filly 6 or 7 times this year.
Pomeroys Pistol took advantage of a swift front-running pace to post a wire to wire upset in the Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park Sunday, defeating highly touted Dancinginherdreams and Grade 1 winner R Heat Lightning.
In her first start since winning the Pocahontas Stakes in late October, Dancinginherdreams turned in an impressive performance in the Forward Gal after being handed the worst of it that left her just ¾ of a length short at the wire.
Falling far off the pace shortly after the break, Dancinginherdreams swept into the turn 6 or 7 wide and mounted a furious rally to catch the leaders. Charging hard down the grandstand side the striking gray filly steadily ate away at Pomeroys Pistol’s lead but fell short at the wire. It was a promising performance she turned in after only two lifetime starts and should sharpen her up nicely for a comeback in the Davona Dale Stakes on February 26th if that is her connections plan.
The winner was resolute in holding off the Grade 2 winning Dancininherdreams but appeared tired in the final strides to the wire. She started the year with a second place finish in the Old Hat Stakes (gr.3) over Gulfstreams strip and fully used that familiarity to her advantage, now some time will be given before a decision is made on whether to run in the Davona Dale or give her more time to recuperate.
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