Kathleen O. Improves to 3-for-3 in Davona Dale
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Kathleen O. wins the Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Winngate Stables' Kathleen O. used a late outside stretchcharge to overtake the leaders March 5, capturing the $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
The dark bay/brown daughter of Upstart made it 3-for-3 in her brief career by rallying from last at the top of the stretch to earn a two-length victory over Classy Edition . The triumph earned 50 points toward the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), essentially assuring her of qualifying for the race.
"Off of this, yes," trainer Shug McGaughey said of a potential start in the Oaks. "We'll see how she comes back. I'll probably point her for the (Gulfstream Park) Oaks if she's doing right. If there's a little something I'm not pleased with, we'll wait.
"My preference would be to keep her here, and not have to ship her for the Ashland or something like that."
The $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) is April 2, while the $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) is April 8 at Keeneland.
Mi Negrita , under Junior Alvarado, made the lead after breaking from the gate. The filly set fractions of :23.38 and :46.04 as Kathleen O., the 2-1 favorite under Javier Castellano, broke from the inside post position and settled near the back.
Sweet Dani Girl , with jockey Jose Ortiz, moved to engage leaders Mi Negrita and Girl With a Dream three-wide in the turn. Sweet Dani Girl moved in front after six furlongs in 1:10.77 and led into the stretch, at which point Kathleen O. angled out from behind horses to charge to victory on the outside.
The winning time of 1:36.23 for the one-turn mile was good enough to defeat Classy Edition and rider Irad Ortiz Jr. Cocktail Moments finished 1 1/4 lengths back in third under Corey Lanerie.
"I liked the way she did it today," Castellano said of Kathleen O. "She doesn't have the speed to be close to the horses, but I loved the way she finished. Turning for home, I was loaded. I was just looking for the seam and trying to split horses and that's exactly what I did."
McGaughey said he liked seeing his filly forced to wait for an opening.
"She did break pretty good today, but she just didn't have the speed to stay up with them," McGaughey said. "I kind of liked in the turn, where she kind of got steadied a little bit and had to wait for the seam, so then she could go on and finish the way she finished."
Kathleen O., purchased for $275,000 with McGaughey as agent last year from Niall Brennan Stables' consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training with, is the first horse owned by Winngate's Pat Kearney.
"I've never been so nervous in my life about anything," the 83-year-old Kearney said in the winner's circle. "It's just been a super experience and I owe it all to Shug."
Kathleen O. won her debut over a muddy Aqueduct Racetrack surface Nov. 12 before rallying to win the Jan. 1 Cash Run at Gulfstream by 8 1/2 lengths at the one-turn mile. With Saturday's win, she improved her earnings to $226,280. She was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Bridlewood Farm and is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Blame mare Quaver . The mare has an unraced Tapwrit colt named Tap Collector that was purchased for $65,000 by PJ Campanella from the Stuart Morris consignment at the 2021 OBS October Yearling Sale and has an unnamed yearling filly by Tapwrit . She was bred back to the Gainesway stallion for 2022.