Dalvina goes marathoning for noteworthy barn

MIAMI - Trainer Graham Motion has won two of the last five editions of the Grade 2 La Prevoyante Handicap with New Economy and Film Maker. On Saturday, Motion appears to have a good chance to complete the hat trick when he sends out Dalvina as the favorite in a field of 12 filly-and-mare long-distance grass specialists.

Dalvina will be making her first start since being transferred to Motion's barn following her impressive 3 1/2-length victory over Barancella in the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap in her U.S. debut on Nov. 11. A 3-year-old daughter of Grand Lodge, Dalvina was trained by Edward Dunlop for the Long Island, which, like the La Prevoyante, is run at 1 1/2 miles.

"This is a competitive race for sure," Motion said from his Fair Hill, Md., training center on Thursday. "She's handled everything nicely since the race in New York and is not acting or giving any indication that she's regressed at all."

Dalvina rallied from nearly a dozen lengths off the lead to win the Long Island, but Motion thinks she'll be closer to the pace on Saturday.

"She broke a step slow, as horses always seem to do when coming over here from Europe," he said. "But I imagine running once she'll be used to it, will break a little better and should be a little handier this time around. That's not to say she'll be on the lead, but I think she should be a lot closer."

Dalvina carries top weight of 117 pounds under Cornelio Velasquez in the La Prevoyante.

My Rachel and Green Girl, third and fourth, respectively, behind Dalvina in the Long Island, get a return match on Saturday.

My Rachel opened a long lead midway through the Long Island and remained well in front nearing midstretch before tiring to finish 4 1/4 lengths behind Dalvina. Trainer Todd Pletcher will take the blinkers off My Rachel for her local debut on Saturday.

Green Girl finished a head behind My Rachel - never seriously threatening the winner - while making her third U.S. start in the Long Island.

"My filly really didn't have any real excuse in the Long Island," said Green Girl's trainer, Christophe Clement. "I just hope Dalvina might regress a little off her last as some horses do after running a big race in their U.S. debuts."

I'm in Love has a win and three seconds in her last four starts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

"She's doing extremely well, " he said. "She showed she could go a mile and one-quarter in her last race, and she's a turf filly.

"She might be a notch below a top filly, but there aren't really any monsters in this field, so we decided to put her in and give her a chance, even though a mile and one-half remains a bit of a question mark."

Redaspen and the Michael Matz-trained pair of Eres Magica and Herboriste also demand respect.

Noe: Finallymadeit faces 'Paradise'

Local sprint division leaders Finallymadeit and Paradise Dancer top a full field of 12 in the $100,000 Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap at seven furlongs.

Finallymadeit, the iron horse of the division, has won 4 of his last 5 starts, all stakes. The 3-year-old son of Concerto is coming off back-to-back hard-fought wins in the Jack Dudley Handicap and Radar Love Stakes, but has yet to win beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.

Paradise Dancer handed Finallymadeit his only loss during his recent streak, rallying to a neck win in the seven-furlong Go to Will Stakes on Oct. 20. Paradise Dancer, who was also second earlier this season in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap, is part of a three-horse, Kirk Ziadie-trained entry along with Fortunate Trail and D'artagnans'spirit.

Storm in May, the only other 3-year-old in the lineup, makes his third start since returning from a 4o1/2-month layoff in October and appears ready for a big effort coming off a head setback at the hands of Finallymadeit in the Jack Dudley.

Storm in May, second in the Gradeo2 Arkansas Derby, beat Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up Idiot Proof in the Sunshine Millions Dash in January.

Hooper: Electrify stuck outside

Electrify will carry high weight of 122 pounds but breaks from post 11 in a full field of 12 entered for the Grade 3, $100,000 Fred Hooper Handicap.

Electrify has won 3 of his last 4 starts, all stakes. His only loss, dating back to July 4, was a second-place finish behind Yes He's the Man in the Grade 3 Spend a Buck Handicap.

Imawildandcrazyguy and Summer Book, second and third, respectively, behind Electrify in the Carl G. Rose Handicap, again figure to provide top challenges, along with invaders Actin Good, Indy Wind, and Wayzata Bay.