Andrew and Marina Stone’s Dalvina, entering off of a successful American debut, is the one to beat in the $200,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (gr. IIT) Dec. 15 at Calder Race Course.
The 1 1/2-mile turf test for fillies and mares drew a full field of 12 and is one of four graded stakes on the $600,000 Grand Slam II card at Calder.
A 3-year-old Grand Lodge filly, Dalvina won just once in England this year but was group placed twice. Previously trained by Ed Dunlop, she was shipped to the United States in September and entered in the $150,000 Long Island Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Aqueduct Nov. 11. After settling into last place in the backstretch, Dalvina rallied to take the 1 1/2--mile event by 3 1/2 lengths under Cornelio Velasquez.
On Nov. 12, Dalvina was shipped to Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, where she is now training with Graham Motion.
“I have not trained horses for the Stones before, but I know Ed Dunlop quite well, and that was the connection that resulted in me getting the filly,” Motion said Nov. 13. “She had been keeping very solid company in Europe, so her win (in the Long Island) wasn’t a big surprise, except for the fact she won as easily as she did.
“We’ll give her a break after (the La Prevoyante) and point her to the nice races next year, with, hopefully, the Breeders’ Cup our year-end goal.”
Out of the Hailing mare Foodbroker Fancy, Dalvina is the only La Prevoyante starter with a graded stakes win. She was bred in England by Normandie Stud. Carrying a top weight of 117 pounds, Dalvina will break from post five with Velasquez aboard.
Competition is likely to come from Pennsylvania-bred Redaspen, a 5-year-old mare by Bianconi. An Equivine Farm homebred, Redaspen has placed in all five stakes starts this year, two which resulted in wins. On May 27, Redaspen won the Politely Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths at Monmouth Park, and two starts later triumphed in the July 28 Mrs. Penny Stales at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack.
Trained by Rebecca Baker, Redaspen’s last start was a third-place finish in the My Charmer Handicap (gr. IIIT) Dec. 1 at Calder. She has placed in 19 of 23 lifetime starts. Eddie Castro gets the mount.
Also with a solid chance is 4-year-old Chilean-bred Eres Magica, who shipped to the U.S. this year. Since coming over, Eres Magica has won just once in six starts but has shown improvement since her victory in the Aug. 25 Omnibus Stakes at Monmouth, in which she set the 11-furlong track record of 2:13.35 on the turf.
In her last start, Eres Magica, who prefers to come from off the pace, rallied to fall only a length short of Omeya in the Oct. 21 Dowager Stakes at Keeneland. Owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, she is one of two La Prevoyante starters trained by Michael Matz. Herboriste, who has never raced in stakes competition, is the other.
I’m in Love, second in the Oct. 13 Athenia Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park, could also be a factor. The 4-year-old Zafonic filly is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Oh Deanne O, 111, Javier Castellano
2. My Rachel, 115, Edgar S. Prado
3. Green Girl, 115, Kent J. Desormeaux
4. Jive, 112, Eduardo O. Nunez
5. Dalvina, 117, Cornelio H. Velasquez
6. Redaspen, 115, Eddie Castro
7. Eres Magica, 116, Jose Lezcano
8. Herboriste, 112, Manoel R. Cruz
9. Suaveness, 112, Raymundo D. Fuentes
10. I'm in Love, 115, Elvis Trujillo
11. Sans Souci Island, 115, Emma-Jayne Wilson
12. Indiansong, 112, Eduardo O. Nunez
