Winngate Stables LLC's very promising Kathleen O. (Upstart) remained undefeated and stamped herself as a leading GI Kentucky Oaks contender with another impressive victory in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream.
Backed down to 2-1 favoritism from a 9-2 morning line, the rail-drawn dark bay trailed the deep field of seven early. Up a spot into sixth following an opening quarter in :23.38, she was under a ride rounding the far turn while racing in between horses. Stuck in a little traffic approaching the quarter pole, Javier Castellano found a lane as they straightened and Kathleen O. charged home in style while securing 50 qualifying points for this year's Kentucky Oaks. Previously unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Classy Edition (Classic Empire), a perfect three-for-three versus fellow New York-breds, was up for second.
The narrow winner of a somewhat key seven-furlong heat at Aqueduct first up in the mud in November, Kathleen O. most recently aired by 8 1/2 lengths in the track-and-trip Cash Run S. on New Year's Day.
“She did break good today, but she just doesn't have the speed to stay up with them,” winning trainer Shug McGaughey said. “The way she finished, pretty remarkable, especially over this track. I think this is a big move for a filly coming into this race off just two starts. I mean, I hope she keeps improving. Today, she had to make her room a little bit, so I'm sure she learned quite a bit today. That would be my preference to keep her here [for the Gulfstream Park Oaks] and not have to ship her for the Ashland [at Keeneland]. I'm pleased so far. I would think that [increased distance to 1 1/16 miles] shouldn't be a problem.”
Castellano added, “I liked the way she did it today. She doesn't have the speed to be close to the horses, but I loved the way she finished. She always breaks slow out of the gate, but that's her style. Every horse is different. Turning for home, I was loaded. I was just looking for the seam and trying to split horses and that's exactly what I did.”
Pedigree Notes:
Airdrie Stud's third-crop sire Upstart is in a sweet spot with his sophomores this year. Not only does he have Kathleen O., who was ranked third in this week's TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 prior to her Davona Dale score, but he also has the colt Zandon in a prominent spot on the TDN Derby 12. With the Davona Dale, Kathleen O. becomes Upstart's second graded winner. She was already one of his six black-type winners, with another seven runners knocking on the door with stakes performances.
Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Bridlewood Farm and sold by Niall Brennan as a $275,000 Ocala Spring 2-year-old after working a :21 1/5 quarter, Kathleen O. is the first foal out of Quaver, who has since only visited Tapwrit, resulting in a 2-year-old colt named Tap Collector (a $65,000 OBS yearling purchased by PJ Campanella) and a yearling filly. Gainesway, Bridlewood, and the Tapwrit syndicate had bought Quaver with Kathleen O. in utero for $90,000 at the 2019 Keeneland January sale, then resold her at last year's Keeneland November sale in foal to Tapwrit for $140,000 to Lev Miller. Her dam is a half to GISW and young sire Cupid (Tapit), as well as to additional GSWs Heart Ashley (Lion Heart) and Ashley's Kitty (Tale of the Cat).
Quaver is one of six young Blame mares to produce a stakes winner to date. Blame–who entered stud the year before Upstart was born–had a repeat black-type winner of his own Saturday, with his Officiating taking Aqueduct's GIII Tom Fool S.
Saturday, Gulfstream
DAVONA DALE S. PRESENTED BY FANDUEL-GII, $200,000, Gulfstream, 3-5, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:36.23, ft.
1–KATHLEEN O., 120, f, 3, by Upstart
               1st Dam: Quaver (SP), by Blame
               2nd Dam: Skipper Tale, by Tale of the Cat
               3rd Dam: Pretty 'n Smart, by Beau Genius
  1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($8,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000
Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Winngate
Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD & Bridlewood
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Javier Castellano.
$121,520. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $226,280. Werk Nick
  Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Classy Edition, 120, f, 3, Classic Empire–Newbie, by
Bernardini. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($550,000 2yo '21
EASMAY). O-Low, Lawana L. and Robert E.; B-Chester & Mary
Broman (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $39,200.
3–Cocktail Moments, 118, f, 3, Uncle Mo–River Maid, by
Where's the Ring. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($135,000 Wlg
'19 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $245,000 RNA 2yo '21
OBSMAR). O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-Mark Stansell (KY);
T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $19,600.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 2.30, 3.80, 11.50.
Also Ran: Sweet Dani Girl, Outfoxed, Girl With a Dream, Mi Negrita. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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