Davona Dale

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A contentious field of eight sophomore fillies will line up on Saturday in

the $150,000 Davona Dale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park, and we can't pick against

BICKERSONS (Silver Deputy) as she stretches back out in this one-mile event. The

Kelly Breen trainee ran third in last year's seven-furlong Spinaway S. (G1) at

Saratoga before shipping west to fill that same spot when trying 1 1/16 miles

and Pro-Ride for the first time in the Oak Leaf S. (G1) at Santa Anita. She was

well-beaten in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) next out, but rebounded

to add the Moccasin S. over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track to her resume. Making

her fourth straight start on a synthetic surface, the dark bay ran fifth in the

Hollywood Starlet (G1) to close out her juvenile campaign.

Bickersons' supporters were in a minority based on her two-year-old season,

but the filly returned with a vengeance on January 31 to blow the Forward Gal S.

(G2) wide open. Taking the lead from the start under Joe Bravo, the sophomore

lass was never threatened while finishing seven lengths clear under wraps. She

earned career-best 104 BRIS Speed and 101 BRIS E2 Pace ratings for that

seven-furlong effort, and will probably enjoy remaining on Gulfstream's dirt

while stretching out a bit more. This is the toughest field she's faced since

the Breeders' Cup, but Bickersons and Bravo should find themselves in the

winner's circle once again.

SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow) will likely not allow Bickersons to get away with as

easy a lead as she did in the Forward Gal. The chestnut miss will probably be

either stalking or pressing the pace from her far outside post under Robby

Albarado while going for her fourth straight stakes win. Trainer Dale Romans

sent Sassy Image out to capture the one-mile Pocahontas S. (G3) and 8

1/2-furlong Golden Rod S. (G2) during Churchill Downs' fall meet. Given a couple

months off, the miss was scheduled to make her three-year-old debut in the

grassy Sweetest Chant S., but the race was moved to the sloppy, sealed main

track. That didn't deter Sassy Image, who saved ground on the inside before

taking command and drawing off for the easy 4 1/2-length victory. She's on a

roll and will be tough to deny in the stretch run with Albarado aboard.

JOANIE'S CATCH (First Tour) is seeking her first win since taking the Brave

Raj S. at Calder in September, but we don't think she'll come through with the

score in this one. However, the Barry Rose charge does own the talent and

experience to make a run in the top three. With 15 races already under her

girth, the chestnut is a veteran of the track wars compared to others in here

and could utilize that knowledge to come up with a seventh straight placing.

She's been runner-up in her past three, including the Forward Gal and Old Hat S.

(G3), and was third while going the distance in the Delta Princess S. (G3) in

early December. Joanie's Catch will keep Paco Lopez in the saddle.

CHRISTINE DAAE (Giant's Causeway) will be making her long-awaited stakes bow

in this spot and, while we think highly of the maiden, we're willing to watch in

her first try against winners. Conditioned by Patrick Biancone, it wouldn't

surprise us in the least if she jumps up to take this one, especially following

her 8 3/4-length romp last out over the track. The chestnut has been working

bullets since then, most recently posting five furlongs in :59 2/5, and will

receive the expertise of Corey Nakatani to guide her in just her third lifetime

start. Christine Daae is one to keep on your radar screen.

COMIC MARVEL (Distorted Humor), like Christine Daae, will be trying stakes

company for the first time, but the Bill Mott runner has already gone one better

than her rival in that she's scored against winners. Breaking her maiden by a

half-length at Belmont Park in October, the filly made her three-year-old bow in

a Gulfstream allowance going a mile, was steadied on the backstretch, but

recovered to get up for the three-quarters of a length win. She, too, has been

recording some sharp works to prepare for this next step, and retains the

services of John Velazquez.

FEMALE DRAMA (Indian Charlie) captured the Wings of Jove S. at Belmont last

year, but suffered a terrible trip in her return on January 9 in the Old Hat.

Breaking from the inside, the bay miss was bumped and steadied at the start of

the six-furlong test, falling back to 10th and losing all chance. She'll be

hoping to rebound here, but has picked a tough race in which to get her

confidence back. MAMBO FEVER's (Stormin Fever) best start to date came as a

second in the Tempted S. (G3) in November, and she ran second to Comic Marvel in

her seasonal debut. The dark bay filly appears to have plenty of potential, but

she may not be fast enough at this point to fulfill that promise.

AMEN HALLELUJAH (Montbrook) is currently a game winner on the West Coast,

adding the Santa Ynez S. (G2) to her line last out, but will be trying a normal

dirt track for the first time in this spot. If she takes to the surface switch,

the dark bay miss will be challenging in the top three, but we're willing to let

her beat us.