Dame Dorothy Graceful in Sunshine Millions Distaff

In the United Kingdom, the title ‘dame’ is given to the female equivalent of a knight. On Saturday at Gulfstream Park, Dame Dorothy lived up to the accolades suggested in her name by scoring a decisive victory in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff over a field of 12 accomplished female runners.

Dame Dorothy, a 4-year-old daughter of Bernardini and the Woodman mare Vole Vole Monamour, settled in mid pack early as frontrunners Puddifoot and Wildcat Lily set first quarter fractions of 22.04 seconds and clock in at 44.55 for a half. Their lead was short-lived. As the field approached the quarter-pole, Dame Dorothy pounced and immediately took command of the race. Under Edgar Prado, the bay filly opened up a 3 ½-length lead and the win was never in doubt. She crossed the wire two lengths in front, covering the seven furlongs in 1:23.26. Sheer Drama was second, while Flutterby was ¾-length back in third.

“She really showed up today, like she always does,” Prado said. “She broke very good, and I put her outside because that's where [trainer] Todd [Pletcher] wanted her to be and not let the dirt hit her in the face. Once she was there, she was very comfortable. I was just biding my time and when I turned her loose, she had a really nice kick.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher scored his second straight win in the Distaff after winning the race in 2014 with E. Paul Robsham Stables’ Sweet N Discreet, a feat made possible by Pletcher’s decision to start Dame Dorothy in the Distaff over the Filly and Mare Turf. Pletcher cross-entered Dame Dorothy in both races but ultimately opted for the dirt race when his trainee drew outside posts in both races.

“I’ve always felt that with her pedigree, she’d stretch out,” Pletcher said. “The Bernardini part told us that she’d probably want to stretch out, and she’s always trained well on the dirt. If you look at the bottom side of the pedigree, there’s a lot of turf in it. We’ve always been happy with what she’s done on the dirt, but considering that Florida’s one of the few places where we’re able to cross enter in two different races, we figured it made sense to look at both.”

Dame Dorothy’s dam Vole Vole Monamour ran just once in Chantilly, France, winning that lone allowance start on the grass, and the broodmare has produced numerous turf winners, including Mrs. Lindsay, a $1.2 million dollar earner who took Woodbine’s E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1) in 2007. But Dame Dorothy has so far run only on the main track, and in six career starts, she has only lost once. She made just one start at three, breaking her maiden at first asking in the fall of 2013 at Aqueduct, before opening eyes with a 12-length victory in an allowance at Gulfstream in January of last year. She would not start again until August, taking the Malvern Rose Stakes at Presque Isle Downs before winning her first graded stake in October’s Turnback the Alarm (G3) at Belmont Park. Owned by world-renowned chef and restaurateur Bobby Flay, Dame Dorothy suffered her first career defeat in the Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Nov. 29, when she finished third, beaten 2 ½ lengths. The Distaff was the filly’s 4-year-old debut.

“She’s been impressive from day one,” Pletcher said. “She’s always run well, and even in her loss, she was kind of up against a track bias that day. She always shows up and tries hard every day.”

Bred in Pennsylvania by Derry Meeting Farm, Dame Dorothy became the first Pennsylvania bred to win a Sunshine Millions race after the once Florida-bred showcase was opened to New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania breds this year. Pletcher found that change very appealing.

“We really didn’t come down with this race in mind, but the conditions were changed a bit and opened it up to Pennsylvania breds, so we decided it might be a good opportunity for her. I think she’s actually better going a little bit longer, but it worked out well today.”

Pletcher cited the Santa Margarita Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park on March 14 as a next possible start for Dame Dorothy.

“We’ve been thinking about taking her out to California for the Santa Margarita,” he said, “and we’ll see how she comes out of [this race], but that’s a consideration.”

Dame Dorothy paid $6.00 for her victory, while Sheer Drama returned $28.60 for the place. Flutterby’s show returned $9.40. The order of finish was completed by Toasting, Swinger’s Party, Wildcat Lily, Golden Production, Puddifoot, Devil’s Cave, Girlaboutown, My Pal Chrisy, Tapit’s World, and Dreamlicious.

Source: Gulfstream Park