Jaywalk sharp for return in Davona Dale

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The paths are slightly different, but trainer John Servis can only hope the result is the same.

Servis won the Kentucky Oaks three years ago with a filly named Cathryn Sophia, using the Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park as a crucial stepping-stone. On Saturday, Servis will unveil his newly minted champion, Jaywalk, for her 3-year-old debut in the one-mile Davona Dale, a Grade 2, $200,000 race that’s a key part of a blockbuster program featuring the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

“The circumstances are different, but yes, this is a big step for us to get to the [Kentucky] Oaks,” Servis said.

Jaywalk, owned by Cash Is King and D. J. Stable, won the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in her fifth career start to clinch the Eclipse Award for top 2-year-old filly of 2018. Shortly after the Breeders’ Cup, the gray daughter of Cross Traffic spent about 30 days at the Florida annex of Hidden Brook Farm just outside of Ocala, Fla., where she was prepared last spring prior to starting her racing career. Since being reunited with Servis at his Palm Meadows winter base, the filly has breezed six times, ending Sunday with a solo half-mile in 50.40 seconds.

Servis said the filly’s first work on Jan. 11, a half-mile in 50.80, was a telltale sign that he needn’t much worry about her readiness.

“Her first breeze back was a nice, easy half-mile, and she galloped out on her own so strong that I knew right then she didn’t miss much at all when she was away,” he said. “She didn’t get much bigger, but that’s just her – she’s not a big, strapping filly. Fortunately, it’s been smooth sailing – hold on, let me find some wood to knock on. She really did come back to me from the farm in great shape.”

In 2016, Servis used the seven-furlong Forward Gal as a prep toward the Davona Dale for Cathryn Sophia. That wasn’t necessary this time around.

“We got a late start with Cathryn Sophia, so we didn’t really have time to stop on her,” Servis said. “But we’d already gotten a nice foundation in Jaywalk, which allowed us to give her the little break she got.”

Cathryn Sophia won the Davona Dale by seven lengths, then finished third as an odds-on favorite in the Ashland at Keeneland in her lone interim start prior to winning the Oaks. Servis said the next Oaks prep for Jaywalk has yet to be decided, although the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks and the April 6 Ashland are obvious options.

“Let’s wait on that,” he said. “We’re just trying to get to the Oaks one race at a time.”

Jaywalk is one of perhaps six or seven fillies expected for the 31st Davona Dale. She figures as a huge favorite after Chad Brown decided not to run Feedback, who likely would have been a close second choice in the wagering. Brown said Monday he is withholding Feedback, a last-out winner of the Feb. 2 Forward Gal, to wait instead for the Ashland. Feedback breezed Saturday at Palm Meadows, going a half-mile in 50.80.

Other confirmed starters for the Davona Dale, which offers 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5) toward the May 3 Kentucky Oaks, are Champagne Anyone, Into Trouble, and Jeltrin, while possibles include Bold Script, Graceful Princess, and Helen.

10 likely for Fountain of Youth

As of Monday, a field of 10 3-year-olds appeared solid for the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth, with perhaps another straggler or two when entries for the entire Saturday card were drawn Wednesday afternoon. The 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth offers 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5) to the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

These are the probables: Admire, Bourbon War, Code of Honor, Everfast, Frosted Grace, Global Campaign, Hidden Scroll, Signalman, Union’s Destiny, and Vekoma.

Besides the Fountain of Youth and Davona Dale, the other Saturday stakes are the Gulfstream Park Sprint and six turf races – the Mac Diarmida, The Very One, Canadian Turf, Honey Fox, Palm Beach, and Herecomesthebride.

Rosario on familiar turf

Before returning this winter to his former base in Southern California, jockey Joel Rosario had been a regular at every Gulfstream championship meet since 2012-13. The 34-year-old native of the Dominican Republic will be looking to make a triumphant return Saturday as the rider of the favorites in the two biggest races – Jaywalk in the Davona Dale and Hidden Scroll in the Fountain of Youth.

As of Monday, Rosario had confirmed mounts in three of the other seven stakes – Channel Maker in the Mac Diarmida, Piedi Bianchi in the Honey Fox, and Primela in the Herecomesthebride.

Meanwhile, Irad Ortiz Jr., who has soared to the top of the local standings, has a nearly full dance card for Saturday. Ortiz’s mounts include Bourbon War in the Fountain of Youth, Zulu Alpha in the Mac Diarmida, Breaking the Rules in the Canadian Turf, and Holy Helena in the The Very One.