Gulfstream wrap: Fiona’s Magic wins depleted Davona Dale

Stonehedge’s Florida homebred Fiona’s Magic, who came up short in her graded-stakes debut last month, led every step of the way and turned back previously undefeated Into Champagne and Leslie’s Rose through the stretch to win Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes by a half-length at Gulfstream Park.

The 37th running of the one-mile Davona Dale for 3-year-old fillies was a Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying race worth 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers.

Click here for Gulfstream Park entries and results.

The complexion of the Davona Dale changed early Saturday afternoon with the scratch of Just F Y I, the undefeated champion 2-year-old filly of 2023 who was the 7-5 program favorite. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said she spiked a fever, postponing her sophomore debut.

That left Leslie’s Rose, unbeaten in two starts and facing stakes company for the first time, as the 1-5 favorite exiting a victory over winners Jan. 11 at Gulfstream. She was content to lay fourth as Tyler Gaffalione directed Fiona’s Magic to the front, where she led through a quarter-mile in 24.59 and a half in 47.47 seconds, pressed to her outside by 16-1 long shot Queen’s Martini with Into Champagne in the clear three wide in third.

Fiona’s Magic was still in front after six furlongs went in 1:11.72 when jockey Julien Leparoux and Glitter Woman winner Into Champagne rolled up alongside approaching the stretch as Leslie’s Rose took aim with a rail run. Fiona’s Magic dug in under the threat passing the eighth pole and held sway as Into Champagne had to settle for second with Leslie’s Rose 1 3/4 lengths back in third.

Queen’s Martini, Whocouldaskformo and New Diamond completed the order of finish. Miss Sayely also was scratched.

“I didn’t give Tyler any instructions,” winning trainer Michael Yates said. “I said, ‘Ride the race how it comes up.’ ”

Fiona’s Magic had a two-race winning streak snapped in her prior start, a two-length loss to R Harper Rose, when she finished second in the Forward Gal (G3), her stakes debut, also with Gaffalione aboard.

This marked the second straight year Yates has won the Davona Dale following 46-1 Dorth Vader in 2023.

“She put in a huge effort last time. I was able to get familiar with her,” Yates said of Fiona’s Magic. “The team did a great job bringing her over ready. Mr. Yates has done a fabulous job last year with Dorth Vader, this year with her. She was there for me every step.”

The Davona Dale was the first time racing beyond seven furlongs for Fiona’s Magic. Yates said he was not concerned about the distance and was uncertain what might be next for the daughter of Ireland Group 3-placed St Patrick’s Day.

“Enjoy today and talk about the rest tomorrow,” Yates said. “I thought she was very capable of it. She’s been coming along steadily.”

Chili Flag closes from 9th to score in Honey Fox

Trainer Chad Brown continued his recent domination, and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. won his fifth race on the Saturday card when favored Chili Flag got to the winner’s circle from the $150,000 Honey Fox (G3), a one-mile turf race for older fillies and mares.

Brown won the Honey Fox for the fourth time in the last six years, including the last three editions of the race.

Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Michael Kisber, France-bred Chili Flag roared down the stretch on the outside and got past Walkathon, who had emerged with the lead. The 2-1 favorite paid $6.20, $4.20 and $2.80.

Since coming to Brown’s barn in February 2023, Chili Flag is 8: 3-2-1. The Honey Fox was her first graded-stakes win.

Chili Flag, a daughter of Cityscape out of the Pivotal mare Flag Day, had been compromised by a slow pace in her last start, a sixth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) on Jan. 27. That was her first start since Nov. 19.

In the Honey Fox, lively fractions of 22.31, 45.53 and 1:09.65 were set by 30-1 long shot Time Passage and jockey Edgard Zayas. They were tracked by For the Flag and Luis Saez while Chili Flag settled in mid-pack.

In the stretch, Ortiz let his 5-year-old mare run, and she responded with a closing kick that got her past 9-1 Walkathon and jockey Julien Leparoux. That pair settled for second, and 13-1 Ancient Peace was third for Javier Castellano.

The final time for the mile was 1:32.78.

Steal Sunshine gets nose down in Gulfstream Mile

After trailing the field in the early going, Steal Sunshine came with a steady run down the center of the track and got his nose down on the wire to edge Tumbarumba in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) for 4-year-olds and up.

Owned by Michael Iavarone, Jules Iavarone and Carrie Brogden, Steal Sunshine (2-1) earned his third career stakes win and first in graded company after placing three times, most recently running third in the Jan. 27 Fred Hooper (G3) at Gulfstream in his prior start.

It was the third graded victory for trainer Bobby DiBona and first since Hard Enough in the 2014 Red Bank (G3). Paco Lopez won a stakes for the second time Saturday after Abrumar scored for him in the $200,000 Colonel Liam for 3-year-olds on the turf.

Il Miracolo was hustled from the gate to the lead by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, going a quarter-mile in 23.71 seconds and a half in 45.81 under pressure from Tumbarumba.

The winner of the Fred Hooper, Tumbarumba took over the top spot after six furlongs went in 1:10.14. Lopez then gave Steal Sunshine his cue, and the two horses hooked up in mid-stretch and powered to the wire together.

The winning time was 1:35.74.

Il Miracolo stayed up for third, with Shaq Diesel fourth and Gilmore fifth. Castle Chaos, Ticking and Wit were scratched.

Emmanuel repeats in Canadian Turf

Emmanuel, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., took the lead from the pacesetter Saratoga Flash down the stretch and held off a late rally by Siege of Boston to successfully defend his title in the $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3).

Owned by Siena Farm and WinStar Farm, Emmanuel covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.04.

The 5-year-old son of More Than Ready has won 7 of 13 starts and is undefeated in three starts at the distance. Emmanuel, fourth in the 2022 Fountain of Youth (G2) and first in the Poker (G3) in June, was making his first start since finishing fifth in the Fourstardave (G1) in August.

Racing third up the backstretch while Saratoga Flash set fractions of 23.95 and 47.16 seconds, Emmanuel and Ortiz moved three wide around the turn and took the lead above the eighth pole before holding off a late run by Siege of Boston. Ice Chocolat was a game third despite a wide trip.

The Canadian was Pletcher’s fourth win of the day. Ortiz won the Canadian in 2018 with Hogy.

R Calli Kim rallies for The Very One win

R Calli Kim validated her 6-5 favoritism with a late rally that carried the 7-year-old daughter of Revolutionary to victory in the $150,000 The Very One (G3).

The Brendan Walsh-trained mare took a similar route to victory in the 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares as the one taken by Starting Over on his way to winning the Mac Diarmida (G2) earlier Saturday.

Owned by Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing, R Calli Kim settled well off a rapid pace set by Angel Nadeshiko, who was clear on the lead past fractions of 23.47 and 47.98 seconds on her way to catching six furlongs in 1:14.45.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione asked her for her run entering the far turn, and the veteran turf campaigner responded with a wide sweep into the stretch that propelled her past Anatolian and Cairo Consort on her way to victory by two lengths.

R Calli Kim ran the 1 3/8 miles in 2:13.01. Anatolian finished second three-quarters of a length ahead of Cairo Consort.

R Calli Kim had won four races in a row, including a victory in the Long Island (G3) at Aqueduct, before finishing second last out in the Jan. 27 La Prevoyante (G3).

Pounce closes to win Herecomesthebride

Pounce rallied strongly down the stretch and caught Life’s an Audible just before the wire to win the $200,000 Herecomesthebride (G3), a one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Javier Castellano for owner Resolute Racing and trainer Mark Casse, Pounce stayed unbeaten in two starts on the grass. Overall she has three wins in four races. This was her first try in graded-stakes company.

Last early in the race, 9-1 long shot Pounce found her best stride in the stretch after being unhurried in the early stages. Life’s an Audible, the 2-1 second choice, had taken the lead from even-money favorite Ozara in the final sixteenth, but Pounce, rallying to the outside, kept on coming.

The daughter of Lookin At Lucky had won her last start, at Gulfstream on Feb. 24, on the front end. Pounce showed a different dimension in the Herecomesthebride after breaking from the far outside post in the field of eight.

Mystic Lake and jockey Edgard Zayas set early fractions of 23.83 seconds, 46.58 and 1:09.38 and took the lead into the top of the stretch but was overtaken by Ozara. She could not maintain and was passed by Life’s an Audible, who got nailed at the wire by Pounce.

The winning time was 1:33.17. Pounce paid $20.00, $7.80 and $3.60.

Starting Over finishes a Mac Diarmida winner

Starting Over surged late to capture the $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2) in a blanket finish at Gulfstream Park, providing trainer Mike Maker with his fifth victory in the past six years in the 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older horses.

Owned by Nice Guys Stables, Starting Over (11-1) settled well off the early pace around the first turn and the front stretch while saving ground under Edgard Zayas. Main Event, making his first start since finishing off the board in the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) after setting the pace, showed the way into the backstretch after setting solid fractions of 23.70, 48.75 and 1:14.00. He was stalked by Tawny Port, Headline News and Calycanthus.

Zayas eased Starting Over off the rail while advancing on the leaders on the far turn before making a five-wide sweep into the homestretch. Tawny Port moved past tiring Main Event in the stretch with Anglophile and Kingmax in hot pursuit before Starting Over suddenly appeared to their outside on his way to victory by a neck.

Starting Over, who had finished second in the Jan. 27 McKnight (G3) at Gulfstream in his most recent start, ran 1 3/8 miles over a firm turf in 2:12.29. Tawny Port held second a neck ahead of Anglophile in third. Kingmax as another nose back in fourth.