by Karen M. Johnson
Dalvina, an impressive winner of the Long Island Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Aqueduct Nov. 11, has been turned over to trainer Graham Motion to continue her American campaign.
Motion said Dalvina, owned by Andrew and Marina Stone, arrived at his Fair Hill Training Center barn in Maryland Nov. 12.
Dalvina won the $150,000 Long Island by 3 ½ lengths for trainer Edward Dunlop, who is based in Newmarket, England. It was the filly’s first graded stakes score and her first race outside of Europe.
“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.”
Motion has mapped out plans for Dalvina, a daughter of Grand Lodge. Dalvina, a 3-year-old, will run next in the La Prevoyante (gr. IIT) at Calder Race Course Dec. 15.
“Provided she is doing well, we will run in the La Prevoyante,” said Motion, who won the La Prevoyante with Film Maker in 2005. “We’ll give her a break after that and point her to the nice races next year, with, hopefully, the Breeders’ Cup our year-end goal.”