Grade 2 $200,000 Davona Dale All About Pace

Birdatthewire is the lukewarm 4/1 favorite for trainer Dale Romans after rallying from well off the pace to win the Grade 2 Forward Gal by three and a quarter lengths January 24 at Gulfstream.  The victory marked the daughter of Summer Bird’s second career victory in five starts.  Birdatthewire may be at the mercy of a slower pace in the Davona Dale and will lose the services of jockey Irad Ortiz who will ride Cavorting (6/1).  Corey Lanerie gets the call on Birdatthewire breaking from post four. 

Enchantress could carry speed further 

Enchantress (8/1) has plenty of early speed, but had little left after setting a suicidal pace in the Forward Gal, fading badly to finish eighth.  Regular jockey John Velazquez stays aboard and the pair could find the early fractions much more accommodating in the Davona Dale.  Enchantress is two for two at six furlong, but winless in both starts exceeding that distance.  Trainer Todd Pletcher and Velazquez won at an impressive 23% clip in 2014.

Cavorting returns for McLaughlin  

Cavorting (6/1) could be the most talented runner in the field, and returns to action for the first time since her ninth place finish in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont over a sloppy track.  Prior to that start, Cavorting won her debut and the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes in succession.  Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin wins at a 19% clip with runners returning from layoffs between 61 and 180 days.