Gulfstream: Davona Dale card has attention-getting supporting stakes

Barbara D. Livingston

Royal Delta will highlight the Sabin.

 HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Grade 2, $250,000 Davona Dale is the highlight on Saturday’s card but it will be a pair of “hundred-granders," the Grade 3 Sabin and The Very One stakes, that may command the most attention, with each featuring the 2012 debuts of a Breeders’ Cup winner.

Ladies’ Classic winner and Eclipse champion Royal Delta will headline the 1 1/16-mile Sabin. As expected, the Sabin drew a field of only five older fillies and mares when it was drawn Wednesday, but it also includes Grade 1 winner Awesome Maria along with Groupie Doll, Ghostly Darkness, and Canadian Mistress. Ghostly Darkness was supplemented into the race.

Trainer Bill Mott is using the Sabin as a prep for Royal Delta’s first major objective this season, the $10 million Dubai World Cup, on March 31.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Mott. “I’d like to see a good, solid effort in this race so we can look forward to Dubai.”

The Very One will be Perfect Shirl’s first start since she upset the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf more than three months ago. She was one of 14 horses drawn for the 1 1/8-mile The Very One and drew favorably, in post position 4, for trainer Roger Attfield. Her two chief rivals, Casablanca Smile and Keertana, will break to her immediate outside in posts 5 and 6.

The Davona Dale lured nine 3-year-old fillies topped by Grace Hall, whose only setback at 2 came at the hands of division leader My Miss Auerlia in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. From the rail out, the field for the 1 1/16-mile Davona Dale, a major prep for the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks, consists of Nuffsaid Nuffsaid, Grace Hall, Captivating Lass, This Cat’s All That, Frolic’s Revenge, Yara, Disposablepleasure, Taker Home and Salad Girl.