Rising Star Dame Dorothy Gallops at Gulf

9th-GPX, $41,500, Alw, Opt. Clm. ($75,000), NW1X, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m (off turf), 1:44 1/5, sy. 
DAME DOROTHY (f, 3, Bernardini–Vole Vole Monamour, by Woodman) might just lead celebrity chef Bobby Flay to a throwdown of the Oaks variety after cruising to victory in this off-turf allowance in the Gulfstream slop. Alertly away, Dame Dorothy was four wide out of the stretch for the first time before settling into a steady beat while third and in the clear. She appeared to have pacesetting Danalin (Curlin) whenever she wanted and was held together for as long as possible by Javier Castellano. The $390,000 KEESEP yearling purchase was cut loose nearing the short stretch, quickly had her four rivals hard at work and was pushed out hands and heels to score by a very impressive 12 lengths at overlaid odds of 27-10. Bird Maker (Empire Maker), favored off her runner-up effort in the GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 30, plugged on late into second. “Yes, that was pretty impressive,” trainer Todd Pletcher said in perhaps the understatement of the afternoon. “She’s always trained like a really nice filly and I’m happy to get this race under her belt. We’ve been pretty high on her all along. It took us a little while to get her going and she didn’t break her maiden until Cigar Mile Day, but she showed us from early on that she might be something special.” The winner could go next in the GII Davona Dale S. Feb. 22, also the intended target for Bird Maker. Dame Dorothy is a half-sister to Mrs. Lindsay (Theatrical {Ire}), GISW-NA, G1SW-Fr, $1,201,335. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $66,900. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO. 
O-Bobby Flay. B-Derry Meeting Farm (PA). T-Todd A Pletcher.