Davona Dale Rematch in GP Oaks

After crossing the line in a three-horse blanket photo, the top three finishers from the Feb. 21 GII Davona Dale S. go at it again in Saturday’s GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. The speedy Ekati’s Phaeton (Tale of Ekati), a game neck victress that day, makes her first attempt around two turns on dirt here. She also won Gulfstream’s six-furlong GIII Old Hat S. three starts back Jan. 3. 

“She’s doing outstanding,” trainer Bill Kaplan said of the Phaedrus Flights colorbearer. “She has a tremendous amount of speed, and we are seeing if we can lengthen it out. It’s all a progression, and this is a test of two turns. Training-wise, she’s doing well going into this race and she’s learned how to relax a little bit, and I’m hoping we get the two turns without a problem.” 

The stretch-running Birdatthewire (Summer Bird), an impressive come-from-behind winner in the GII Forward Gal S. Jan. 24, was second in the Davona Dale. Trainer Dale Romans will also saddle last term’s GII Pocahontas S. heroineCristina’s Journey (Any Given Saturday), most recently a well-beaten seventh in Churchill’s GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 29. 

It was another neck back to Davona Dale 7-2 favorite Eskenformoney (Eskendereya) in third. The dark bay won her prior two attempts in Hallandale, including a Jan. 16 optional claimer. 

“She ran super last time,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “She just couldn’t quite get by the winner and lost a bob for second. It seemed like it was hard to make up some ground in the one-turn races that day, so I thought she ran well all things considered.” 

Stronach Stables’s Devine Aida (Unbridled’s Song) enters riding a four-race winning streak, including the rained-off Herecomesthebride S. Feb. 28.