Six runners from the Jan. 24 GII Forward Gal S. face eight fresh opponents in today's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park. Forum Racing's Birdatthewire (Summer Bird) broke her maiden fourth out over Lassofthemohicans (Indian Charlie) going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Nov. 29, and defeated that impressive next-out graduate at 12-1 odds with a huge late rally in the Forward Gal. That race featured a very quick early tempo, but this group figures to go fast early as well.
Stonestreet Stables's “TDN Rising Star” Cavorting (Bernardini) could add more early fuel to the fire. The $360,000 KEENOV weanling was an 11-length debut victoress at Belmont July 3 before adding the GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga Aug. 10 from subsequent Grade I winner Angela Renee (Bernardini) and eventual champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway). She set an extremely fast pace before fading to seventh in Belmont's GI Frizette S. Oct. 4, and has not been heard from since. “We are very high on her, obviously,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “She broke her maiden by 11 first time out, so she's very talented. Last time, it rained and it was a funny racetrack that day. We're happy to get her back and to the races. It's not an easy spot to jump into off a little break. There are some quality fillies in there, but we need to get her started.”
Barry Schwartz's Jacaranda (Congrats) also returns from a break. The Mike Hushion pupil scored first out by five lengths in the Belmont mud Sept. 21, and handled the stretch out to a mile with aplomb to easily best next-out stakes winner Paulassilverlining (Ghostzapper) in Aqueduct's GIII Tempted S. Nov. 2.
Donegal Racing's Puca (Big Brown) was seventh on debut sprinting at Saratoga Aug. 10, and improved to third behind GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Lady Eli (Divine Park) 15 days later when switched to the lawn and stretched out. The Bill Mott trainee put it all together to air by a head-turning 16 lengths on the Belmont main Oct. 1, which earned her the “TDN Rising Star” moniker. Installed at 4-1 for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 1, the half-sister to MGSW Finnegans Wake (Powerscourt {GB}) appeared to be uncorking a dangerous rally when she was shut off in the stretch, forcing her to settle for sixth, beaten three lengths.
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