The Queens M G Defeats La Cara in Davona Dale

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. ignored a lesson learned from C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stable's The Queens M G 's previous start and rode the filly to victory March 1 in the $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The 3-year-old dark bay/brown daughter of Thousand Words   had finished third in her previous race, the Feb. 1 Forward Gal Stakes (G3), when Ortiz said he prematurely asked The Queens M G to make a move.

On Saturday, Ortiz faced a similar decision in the turn where a battle had developed between his filly and Tracy Farmer's homebred La Cara .

"In the turn, I saw La Cara outside of me, but I didn't want to move. I thought it was a little too early for my filly," Ortiz said. "Last time, I made a premature move on the turn, and she hanged. So, I didn't want to move too early, but I had the space inside. So I (thought), alright, it's probably early, but let's go.'"

The Queens M G fired and moved ahead of La Cara in the final furlong to win for the fourth time in eight career starts and capture 37.5 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Point totals were diminished in the Davona Dale due to just five fillies competing. Kentucky Oaks-nominated fillies finishing second through fifth received points on an 18.75-11.25-7.5-3.75 basis.

The winning margin was 2 3/4 lengths for The Queens M G, who ran a mile on a fast track in 1:37.85.

The Queens M G, whose second-crop sire Thousand Words stands at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington for an advertised fee of $12,500 in 2025, was a $3,500 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale in October 2023. She's out of the Grindstone mare Show Queen .

"I thought she would move forward huge. I didn't know if she would move forward enough to win," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "How she ran last time gave me confidence that she moved forward from 2 to 3.

"She's not a big filly. You always question, 'Was she early and precocious?' But after the last race, I was very happy with the run."

Madeline's Promise  broke alertly and made the lead with The Queens M G, La Cara, and Ballerina d'Oro  stalking through fractions of :24.24, :47.38, and 1:12.32.

The Queens M G and La Cara then broke away heading into the stretch.

La Cara and jockey Dylan Davis just held second, a nose in front of the Tyler Gaffalione-ridden Ballerina d'Oro, who was third.

Madeline's Promise and Frida  rounded out the order of finish.

The Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) is a likely target for The Queens M G, who was bred by T.F. VanMeter, Samuel Hernandez, Jesus Torres, and Justin Vinalay.

Joseph said he wanted to talk with the owners before committing to the filly's next race but added, "It's home, why change it?"