Ivanavinalot plan all wet
MIAMI - Trainer Kathleen O'Connell has been pointing Ivanavinalot for a turf campaign since the Grade 2 winner returned to training after an early-summer vacation. And Saturday's $35,000-added Razzle Dazzle Stakes appeared to be the perfect spot to give Ivanavinalot her first test over the new surface.
But those plans will likely go down the drain, along with the several inches of rain that fell over Calder Race Course on Thursday. The one-mile Razzle Dazzle was drawn as scheduled for the grass, but in all likelihood the overnight stakes will wind up being switched to the main track.
"I'll probably run her even if the race comes off the turf," O'Connell said. "Originally I'd hoped to have her back for the Calder Oaks a few weeks ago, but she missed an important turf work due to rain, and I just didn't think she was tight enough to go a mile and one-eighth against that type competition. But she's ready to run and needs to run now."
Ivanavinalot's reputation as the dominant member of her division here last year at 2 and through most of the spring of her 3-year-old campaign will likely make her one of the favorites in the Razzle Dazzle. But her form tailed off dramatically after her 1 3/4-length victory in Gulfstream Park's Grade 2 Bonnie Miss Stakes on March 14, and she could prove vulnerable coming in off a five-month layoff despite a string of steady works on turf and dirt in the past four weeks.
If the Razzle Dazzle is moved to the main track as expected, Dakota Light could be the one to beat. A versatile filly, Dakota Light has won overnight stakes over both surfaces this year and should get a good stalking trip breaking from the rail under Eibar Coa.
Coa, who guided Dakota Light to a second-place finish in Tampa Bay Downs's Grade 3 Florida Oaks in March, replaces Gary Boulanger, who accepted the call from O'Connell aboard Ivanavinalot.
Both fillies will carry high weight of 121 pounds under the allowance conditions of the race.
Charismatic Lady and Firm Reality were entered for dirt only.
Charismatic Lady has won three of her last four starts and figures to be the one to catch stretching out around two turns for the first time.
Firm Reality has been at her best going a mile, having registered easy first- and second-level allowance victories against older horses at that distance here this season.