The Davona Dale Stakes – Grade II [KYO]
GP Race #10 1m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $215.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.

1 Wyndham Aer Stables Franco M 122 —

With just the four races under her belt she is already looking like a class filly having won two including an all the way victory in the Ruthless last time. The stable already has what is probably the Oaks favorite, so if this filly wins today, she could give the stable some rather interesting options going forward. I guess the question here is whether she goes for the lead, gets taken on and is run down or she is happy for the pace to be in front of her and wait for a time to use her obvious speed. Either way she is an obvious win chance.

2 Sincere Authority Asgar Curtis B 122 —

Not seen past seven furlongs yet but she took the Shady Well last time in game fashion, and I see no reason why she won’t stay this mile. Drawn well, she seems to have plenty of ability, but this is her toughest assignment to date, and it comes over a new trip so there are some question marks here. A decent sort with an in-form jockey; I will be watching and taking notes.

3 Aye Eye TwinTowersRacing Sanchez M J 122 —

When she won the Adirondack, she got plenty of admirers but since then she has been a little disappointing although the draw monster may be responsible for some of that disappointment. She came with a wet sail last time to just miss on seasonal debut and that run would’ve sharpened her up for this race and with this much kinder draw I think we may see a decent effort from her. Is her best good enough to win, well her best will certainly make her very competitive and her last work over a mile was nice so she could be one to include.

4 Gigafemme Big Guns Stables Gaffalione T 122 —

She was looking pretty good at State bred level taking out the big-ticket NYS-Fifth Avenue on her last start as a juvenile. A wide draw didn’t help, but she was a little non de script in the Marthas Wish last time, but I feel there is more to come from her. If this race was slightly shorter, I would be more confident as the mile may be stretching her stamina a bit, but on her efforts as a two-year-old she is not out of this at all.

5 Locked In Mb Stables Velazquez J R 122 —

I would be expecting this filly to start favorite or close to it and not only because she is the best drawn of the Mb Stables representatives. Four races and two wins with one of those coming in the Princess Elizabeth it is her defeats which interest though, me more than her wins. Her run off a break when third in the Marthas Wish last time was very encouraging and though she struggled to make ground in the final furlong that lack of finish could be put down to fitness, so I would expect a bit more today. A lot of the best form in this race is drawn outside of her so along with Wyndham, I feel she is progressive enough to be a major chance.

6 Hard Not To Like Night Mare Racing Rodriguez A R 122 —

Three races and a decent enough maiden win last time she would have to take a big step up to win this one. I think this mile will suit her down to the ground so I wouldn’t entirely write her off, but on what we can see she may not be good enough to trouble the principals here.

7 Creepy Runner Party Mb Stables – Scratch – 122 —

8 Escapist Williams9 Hernandez R M 122 —

We saw a bit of a return to form from this one last time when she ran an even race to be third in the SUN Oaks just a fortnight ago. That run is right up there with the best form in this race, so she must be given a chance to gain some more points for the KYO today and with three runs already this year she is probably the fittest filly in the field.

9 Heart Of Joy Royalty Stables Moore R L 122 —

An on-pace filly she was good as a juvenile but stepped up on that to win the Las Virgenes on seasonal debut in a manner that impressed me. Drawn out wide she stalked the lead which can sometimes be a bad place for a wide runner, but she was always going well and won in the end with a bit in hand. Moore takes the reins again today, and I can see her running a big race if this sticky draw doesn’t undo her.

10 Chemistry Crackle Mb Stables Lopez P 122 —

She has been running as a deep closer up to now so will either need a gaming button intervention or we will be seeing her late once again. I think there will be some pace in this race, and we have seen those wide closers do well this year so if the race engine plays her game, she could well be a chance at a decent price. You would have to say the trip is her minimum as she closed hard and late in the Busanda last time over nine furlongs from a similar draw, but she has shown enough ability on the track and in works to be a sneaky chance here whatever the stable decides to do with her.

11 Tactical Spin Alydar Stables Geroux F 122 —

This stable has been on fire this year and this one certainly put some kindling on that fire when she won the Forward Gal last time. Coming from a mid-pack position she won by a fairly easy two lengths over a trip that was possibly a furlong too short for her and you couldn’t help but be impressed by the performance. Geroux is in the saddle again which is a plus and she is drawn wide again so will be looking for a similar effort today. Certainly, among the favorites to win.
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12 Atomic Fury Red Fox Farms Perez Edg 122 —

Stuck out in the car park, we find the horse that Tactical Spin beat in the Forward Gal last time and it would be tough to see how she can turn the tables under normal conditions. However, here at HRP the draw can help or hinder, and I wonder whether in this case it can help this daughter of Mr Pancake. Although she has a varied running style, I think her natural style may be leader or close to the pace and just maybe if she can muster some wide gate speed push, we may see her go to the lead and cross them early. That may be her best chance of winning this especially if she doesn’t have to go too hard but that is a lot of if’s and not one I am willing to risk Disney Dollars on.

SUMMARY

A good race here with plenty of chances. We have the potential of Wyndham and Locked in against the proven ability of Heart Of Joy and Tactical Spin and then some wild cards in the form of Atomic Fury and Chemistry Crackle. The chances don’t end there but I see those as the main contenders. I feel Tactical Spin, Wyndham ad Locked In are the best of those and would be a decent option for boxing up in trifecta’s or exacta’s and if I was to see a wild card winning then it would be Chemistry Crackle coming wide off a fast pace.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES