by John Mucciolo
Nine graded races highlight a 14-race card on a huge day at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, topped by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) offering 50-20-10-5 points toward a Kentucky Derby (G1) berth.
The 1 1/16-mile contest isn’t the only points contest on Saturday, as Gulfstream also hosts the $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2). That one-mile affair attracted seven fillies vying for 50-20-10-5 points for a spot in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) starting gate on May 3.
Champion Jaywalk makes her much-anticipated return in the Davona Dale. The once-beaten star closed out her dominant two-year-old season with daylight wins in the Frizette Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
The John Servis-trained daughter of Cross Traffic has posted six morning drills in advance of her comeback. Regular pilot Joel Rosario will be in the saddle as the Kentucky-bred miss breaks from the rail.
Cookie Dough ran clear to facile wins in the last two legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes series last season for conditioner Stanley Gold. The Brethren filly has lots of local experience and is working well in preparation of her three-year-old debut.
Champagne Anyone was a closing third in the Forward Gal Stakes (G3) last out for trainer Ian Wilkes. The steadily improving daughter of Street Sense will make her run from off the pace beneath Chris Landeros.
Golden Rod Stakes (G2) third High Regard and Princess Elizabeth Stakes heroine Bold Script are also worth mention. Rounding out the Davona Dale field are Gasparilla Stakes third Another Time and Forward Gal fourth-placer Jeltrin.
Of the nine graded contests on Saturday at Gulfstream, only the Fountain of Youth, Davona Dale and $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) take place on the main track.
In that latter contest, multiple stakes winner Recruiting Ready gets the rail as the one to beat in the eight-strong field. The five-year-old son of Algorithms took the Gravesend Stakes at Aqueduct two prior before finishing runner-up in the off-the-turf Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint most recently for Stanley Hough.
Sunshine Millions Sprint upsetter Quijote has a big turn of foot and plenty of run left in the tank for conditioner Georgina Baxter. The six-year-old son of Pomeroy retains the services of Irad Ortiz Jr.
Dual stakes winner Sweetontheladies, runner-up in this contest last year, and Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) second Storm Advisory are capable of springing an upset in the dash.
