Gulfstream Oaks rematches Live Lively and Dreaming of Julia

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Live Lively and Dreaming of Julia, the 1-2 finishers in last month’s Grade 2 Davona Dale, renew their budding rivalry in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks, one of six stakes on the Florida Derby undercard at Gulfstream Park.

Live Lively used her advantage as the lone speed to upset the Grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia in the Davona Dale, her third consecutive victory since having a chip removed from an ankle following her debut last June.

“She’s got a high cruising speed,” said Mark Hennig, who trains Live Lively for longtime client Lee Lewis. “It wasn’t so much taking advantage of anything, it was just kind of letting her run her race.”

Live Lively, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, could play out as the primary speed again breaking from post 3. Rajiv Maragh will ride Live Lively as regular rider Joel Rosario will be in Dubai.

Dreaming of Julia, trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Grade 1 Frizette last year when engaged in a prolong pace battle with My Happy Face. She ended her 2-year-old season with a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies before her runner-up finish in the Davona Dale.

Dreaming of Julia, who spotted Live Lively five pounds in the Davona Dale, will now carry equal weight with her main rival. She will break from post 4 under John Velazquez.

Emollient, who overcame trouble to win a first-level allowance race here on Feb. 16, will step back into stakes company in the Davona Dale. Emollient finished second to the undefeated Unlimited Budget in the Grade 2 Demoiselle last November at Aqueduct. Jose Lezcano will ride Emollient from post 6.

Cue the Moon, who beat Emollient when both debuted at Saratoga last September, Kimberly Jean, and Original Script, complete the field.