Latour Edges Favored Gold Mover in Davona Dale

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Latour earned a hard-fought victory over 7-10 favorite Gold Mover after dueling with that rival since leaving the backstretch, notching her third consecutive victory in Sunday's $103,000 Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park. Under jockey John Velazquez, the 3-year-old filly stopped the timer in 1:45.51 after 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.

Platinum Tiara rushed up to the lead, claiming the rail on the first turn with Latour and Gold Mover -- the latter forced wide around the bend -- pressing the pace. Latour edged closer on the backstretch and inherited the lead when Platinum Tiara took back suddenly. Gold Mover moved up to challenge Latour on the second turn, and those two raced into the stretch with Latour leading by a half-length. Latour and Gold Mover, the latter guided by Jerry Bailey, dueled though the stretch under synchronized right-handed urging until Bailey switched to hand ride tactics in deep stretch. Latour dug in in the final furlong and held on to win by a half-length. Gold Mover finished second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of a fast-closing Courageous Maiden. Halo Reality came home fourth, followed by Miss Pickums, Miss Annie Bea, and Platinum Tiara, who finished last for the second straight race.

After racing at six furlongs for her first three races, Latour stretched out to seven furlongs in December and earned her first career win with an 18 1/4-length triumph at Aqueduct. She was then shipped to Florida by trainer John Kimmel and promptly won her second victory in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park in early January. The Davona Dale was her first appearance in stakes company. Latour (French Deputy -- Restless Colony, by Pleasant Colony) was bred in Kentucky by Robert S. West Jr. and Michael Riordan. She earned $60,000 for the win, her third in six starts.

The third choice in the wagering, Latour returned $11, $3.80, and $3.20. Gold Mover paid $2.60 and $2.20. Courageous Maiden was worth $5 to show. The winning exacta combination paid $21. (Chart, Equibase)