Kathleen O. notches third straight with Davona Dale

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Despite a stretch running style that traditionally does not fare well over the Gulfstream Park main track, Kathleen O. kept her record unblemished after three starts when rallying from last to a two-length decision over Classy Edition in Saturday’s $200,000 Davona Dale for 3-year-old fillies.

Kathleen O. finished full of run to capture her career debut going seven furlongs at Aqueduct in November then overcame an eventful trip before rallying to a convincing 8 1/2-length triumph in her stakes and local debut in the Cash Run on New Year’s Day. The waters got deeper for Kathleen O. when stepping up to Grade 2 company for the first time in the one-mile Davona Dale, but she handled the test with the poise of a veteran with her regular rider Javier Castellano aboard.

With the victory Kathleen O. also gained 50 points toward qualification to the Kentucky Oaks. Saturday's Davona Dale awarded 85 total Kentucky Oaks points, broken down as 50-20-10-5.

Breaking from the rail, Kathleen O. was slowest to begin and raced at the rear of the seven-horse field off a lively pace set by longshot Mi Negrita and attended by key contenders Girl With a Dream and Sweet Dani Girl. Kathleen O. steadied along briefly behind rivals midway through the turn, angled out for clearance entering the stretch and, once finding a hole between rivals, readily overtook the tiring leaders near midstretch to win going away.

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Classy Edition saved ground most of the way and rallied belatedly to be second-best while proving no match for the winner’s final surge. Cocktail Moments finished another 1 1/4 lengths farther back in third, followed by Sweet Dani Girl, Outfoxed, Girl With a Dream, and Mi Negrita, who eased to the wire far behind the others.

Kathleen O., a daughter of Upstart, is trained by Shug McGaughey for the Winngate Stables LLC. She completed the distance over the fast track in 1:36.23 and paid $6.60 as the tepid favorite. Kathleen O. was given an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It’s tough to win here with her style and being only her third start and getting the 1 post,” McGaughey said. “I kind of liked it over on the turn when she steadied a little bit and he (Castellano) had to wait for the seam. Then she could go on and finish. Pretty remarkable, especially over this track.”

McGaughey said he sees no reason why Kathleen O. can’t get even better, especially when she gets to stretch around two turns.

“I think this was a big move for a filly coming off only two starts,” McGaughey said. “This was a little more solid bunch than she beat the last time. She had to make her room a little bit and I’m sure she learned quite a bit today. Hopefully we’ll be able to move forward to the (Gulfstream Park) Oaks. That’s my preference, to keep her here. Run her two turns and not to have to ship her for a race like the Ashland.”

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