Davona Dale

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Sunday’s $150,000 Davona Dale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park drew only six
sophomore fillies, but the mile test should still prove an interesting event
with the likes of BSHARPSONATA (Pulpit) and GAME FACE (Menifee) meeting for the
first time. Each is bringing a winning streak into the race, but we have to side
with the former to continue her run here.

Trained by Tim Salzman, Bsharpsonata is the only filly in the field with
experience going a mile on the dirt. The bay lass captured the eight-furlong
Irish Sonnet S. in late September by seven lengths, but was then moved to the
turf, where she finished a good fourth in the Epitome S. on
Breeders’ Cup Friday. She proceeded to add the grassy Selima S. to her line,
then made her sophomore debut a 1 1/2-length victory in the Tropical Park Oaks.
Bsharpsonata was transferred back to the main track for her last start, and
rallied late for a game nose victory in the Forward Gal S. (G2) over a sloppy,
sealed track at Gulfstream. The three-year-old miss earned a nice 100 BRIS Speed
rating for that effort, as well as a 105 BRIS E2 Pace figure, and appears ready
to make it four in a row in this spot under Eric Camacho.

Game Face appeared to turn a corner in November, breaking her maiden by 7 1/4
lengths after two previous tries. That was enough for trainer Todd Pletcher to
bypass the allowance ranks and enter his charge in the January 12 Old Hat S.
(G2) at 6 1/2 furlongs. Another easy victory followed, this time by seven
lengths, and the chestnut filly will attempt to keep her streak going here. Game
Face posted a field-best 105 Speed rating and a 107 E2 Pace figure for that
score, but could find company on the front end.
With the extended trip, and an expected pace duel, we’re tabbing the talented
lass for second here with John Velazquez aboard.

ROBBIE’S GAL (Straight Man) was second to AMERICAN COUNTY (Gibson County) in the Sunshine
Millions Oaks last out, and could challenge for that same spot in here. The bay
three-year-old earned a nice 105 E2 Pace rating for her most recent effort, and
is the only other runner in the field with experience at a mile or more. The
Stephen Dimauro trainee competed in three turf events, each going 1 1/16 miles,
and most notably captured the Georgia Debutante S. in early December. Robbie’s Gal could use
that experience to earn a graded placing. Jorge Chavez has the call.

American County ended her long juvenile season with an easy 5 1/2-length
allowance score at Churchill Downs in late November. She proved the layoff was
no consideration when taking the Sunshine Millions Oaks two months later and
will challenge any filly in this field for pacesetting duties. The Dale Romans
charge earned a stellar 107 E2 Pace rating for her Oaks victory, but may not be
able to handle the stretch out in this one. The bay could grab part, but we
don’t envision her lasting all the way to the wire under Edgar Prado.

Both INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) and J Z WARRIOR (Harlan’s Holiday) will be
making their stakes debut in this spot, and both are exiting the same February 2
allowance at Gulfstream Park. J Z Warrior, who was racing for the first time
since taking her maiden at Saratoga by 10 lengths in July, held off Informed
Decision by a nose. Unfortunately, she was disqualified and placed second after
jockey Kent Desormeaux inadvertently struck her rival with the whip. Prior to
her promotion via disqualification, Informed Decision had captured her maiden debut by 6 1/2 lengths on January 3.
Either one of these would be a surprise in the top three, but not to pick up a
check.