German-bred Daveron, who won three of her four starts in 2011, will tote top weight of 123 pounds in the $100,000 Marshua’s River (gr. IIIT), which drew a full field of fillies and mares Jan. 7 at Gulfstream Park.
The Marshua’s River, at 1 1/16 miles on turf, is the feature of Gulfstream’s 11-race Saturday card. Post time was set for 4:45 p.m. EDT. A field of 14, as well as one also-eligible and one main track only starter, was drawn.
Seven-year-old Daveron started only four times last year but won her first three including the Beaugay (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park and Ballston Spa (gr. IIT) at Saratoga. She ended her season with a close third-place effort in the grade I First Lady Oct. 8 at Keeneland. The chestnut mare has turned in a pair of works for trainer Graham Motion at Palm Meadows this winter in preparation for her season debut.
Daveron raced for Team Valor International through the First Lady before being sold to Live Oak Plantation at the Keeneland November sales for $750,000.
Motion has assigned Rajiv Maragh to ride Daveron, who will break from post 3. She has posted a 7-3-2 record from 17 career starts, the first seven of which were run in Europe.
"She’s seven years old and a decision will be made whether to breed her in the spring, but she can still race a time or two even if that is the case,” said Motion.
Michel Zerolo’s Louvakhova will make her second start in the United States after racing six times in France to begin her career. The 4-year-old Maria’s Mon filly won her U.S. debut impressively Oct. 15 at Calder, scoring by 4 1/2 lengths in the Frances A. Genter Stakes for new trainer Marty Wolfson. She was entered but scratched out of the Nov. 12 Mrs. Revere (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs.
Luis Saez will ride Louvakhova once again. She seeks her third lifetime victory.
“I had her with the horses I sent to Kentucky in the fall and entered in (the Mrs. Revere), but she drew the far outside and I scratched,” said Wolfson. “Then she was entered twice here. She was in the South Beach ( and ended up on the also-eligible list and then shortly after that in an allowance and didn’t get in (Dec. 17).”
Wolfson will also send out Farnsworth Stables’ Speak Easy Gal, an optional claiming winner at Keeneland back in October on Polytrack. She is a four-time winner on the Gulfstream turf including the 2010 Orchid (gr. IIIT).
Frank Jones’ homebred Tapitsfly is a two-time stakes winner, the biggest coming in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for trainer Dale Romans. The 5-year-old daughter of Tapit has made it back to the winner’s circle just once in nine tries since then, but did finish second to Daveron by less than two lengths in the Aug. 27 Ballston Spa. She has had three works a Gulfstream leading up to her 2012 debut.
Romans will also saddle Persuading, who was runner-up in an optional claimer on Dec. 22 on the Gulfstream main track.
Peter Fuller’s homebred Trip For A. J., who is based in Florida for trainer Milton Wolfson, has also had some success on the Gulfstream turf. She won the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf last year and finished on the board in a pair of other races. The 5-year-old Trippi mare was third in the South Beach Stakes in Dec. 11 in her most recent start.
$100,000 Marshua's River (gr. IIIT, Race 10, 4:45 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 4 & Up, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer 1. Thundering Emilia (KY), E S Prado, 117, M R Matz
2. Speak Easy Gal (FL), E Trujillo, 117, M D Wolfson
3. Daveron (GER), R Maragh, 123, H G Motion
4. Jenny's So Great (ON), P Lopez, 117, J Servis
5. Heavenly Landing (KY), C J Lanerie, 117, E Kenneally
6. La Reine Lionne (KY), J R Velazquez, 117, C C Brown
7. It's Tea Time (KY), M R Cruz, 117, G R Arnold II
8. Aquitaine (KY), L Contreras, 117, M R Matz
9. Louvakhova (KY), L Saez, 117, M D Wolfson
10. Tapitsfly (KY), J Castellano, 117, D L Romans
11. Trip for A. J. (FL), A Fuller, 117, M W Wolfson
12. Exclusive Love (KY), A O Solis, 117, M E Casse
13. Persuading (KY), J L Castanon, 117, D L Romans
14. Kiss the Stars (KY), J Bravo, 117, A Iwinski Main Track Only: Lava Girl (KY), J Castellano, 117, T A Pletcher Also eligible: Wallis (GB), J Lezcano, 117, C Clement
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