On Saturday, Gulfstream Park will host the 31st running of the $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes. The Grade 2 race, scheduled to be run at one mile on the main track, has drawn a full field of fourteen three-year-old fillies.
Birdatthewire, the upset winner of the Forward Gal Stakes (G2) in January, has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 4-1 in the wide-open field. Trained by Dale Romans, the bay daughter of Summer Bird comes into this race off of back-to-back victories and has been on the board in four of her five starts. Corey Lanerie, aboard for her first three races, will be back in the irons and they will break from post position four.
Second choice at 5-1 on the morning line is Eskenformoney for trainer Todd Pletcher. A dark bay daughter of Eskendereya purchased for $225,000 as a yearling, she will be making her stakes debut after earning her second consecutive victory last time out against optional claiming competition. She broke her maiden in her sixth career start two races back as the heavy favorite. Javier Castellano will be in the irons and they will break from post two.
Also in the field at morning line odds of 10-1 is Puca for trainer Bill Mott. A bay daughter of Big Brown, she will be making her sophomore debut and has been training forwardly for her first start of the year with a recent bullet workout. She is trying to earn her first stakes win and rebound after finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Joel Rosario has the mount an they will break from post position six.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
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