Davona Dale (USA)
May 14, 1976 – 1997
Best Turn (USA) x Royal Entrance (USA), by Tim Tam (USA)
Family 3-l
May 14, 1976 – 1997
Best Turn (USA) x Royal Entrance (USA), by Tim Tam (USA)
Family 3-l
Davona Dale was one of the best fillies ever bred by legendary Calumet Farm. Possessing bloodlines deeply rooted in the farm's breeding program on both sides, she put together a remarkable campaign as a 3-year-old. Her eight victories in 1979 included a sweep of both the old Filly Triple Crown (Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks) and the New York Triple Tiara series (Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks), a feat never matched before or since. Her form tailed off after the CCA Oaks, and injury curtailed her campaign at 4. She was a disappointing broodmare.
Race record
18 starts, 11 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$641,612
1978:
1979:
1980:
Honors
Assessments
Davona Dale was rated #90 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 22nd among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1979, 1 pound above It's in the Air.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1980, 8 pounds below champion Glorious Song.
As an individual
A big, long-striding bay filly, Davona Dale stood 16.1 hands. Veteran racing writer Joe Hirsch described her as “a filly of eye-catching proportions” with “the look of eagles.” John Veitch described her as “a pet” around the barn and “an ideal horse to train” with tremendous athletic ability. Her 4-year-old season was shortened by ankle and tendon trouble.
As a producer
Davona Dale produced 12 foals, of which nine started and six won. Three were stakes-placed, including 1989 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) third Le Voyageur (by Seattle Slew). She is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Just a Cat and the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Executiveprivilege and 2014 Clark Handicap (USA-G1) winner Hoppertunity.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Davona Dale was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. She was trained by John Veitch and was ridden by Jorge Velásquez throughout her racing career.
Pedigree notes
Davona Dale is inbred 4x4x4 to Bull Lea, 5x5x5x5 to Bull Lea's sire Bull Dog and 5x5 to Hyperion. She is a half sister to listed stakes winner Aly's Adita (by Alydar), dam of 2006 Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G1) winner Seek Gold (by Touch Gold). She is also a half sister to All Agleam (by Gleaming), dam of 1984 Stuttaford Fillies Guineas (SAF-G1) winner Flying Snowdrop (by Soy Numero Uno) and English Group II winner Magic Gleam (by Danzig), and to No Blues (by Nashua), second dam of 1991 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Agincourt. Another half sister to Davona Dale, Palace Gate (by Soy Numero Uno), is the dam of stakes winner Palace Revolt (by Fast Gold) and the second dam of 2003 Gran Premio de las Americas (ARG-G1) winner Jamelao. Davona Dale's dam Royal Entrance is a half sister to Sun Gate (by Tim Tam's sire, Bull Lea), dam of 1984 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Gate Dancer (by Sovereign Dancer) and two other stakes winners. The second dam of Davona Dale, Prince's Gate (by Sun Again), won the 1961 Bed o' Roses Handicap. Davona Dale's third dam, Siena Way, is a full sister to Citation.
Books and media
Davona Dale is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: March 31, 2021
Race record
18 starts, 11 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$641,612
1978:
- Won Holly Stakes (USA, 6FD, The Meadowlands)
1979:
- Won Fantasy Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn)
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Bonnie Miss Stakes (USA, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Debutante Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Shirley Jones Stakes (USA, 6FD, Gulfstream Park)
1980:
- Won Ballerina Stakes (USA, 7FD, Saratoga)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1985)
- Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2003)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1979)
Assessments
Davona Dale was rated #90 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 22nd among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1979, 1 pound above It's in the Air.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1980, 8 pounds below champion Glorious Song.
As an individual
A big, long-striding bay filly, Davona Dale stood 16.1 hands. Veteran racing writer Joe Hirsch described her as “a filly of eye-catching proportions” with “the look of eagles.” John Veitch described her as “a pet” around the barn and “an ideal horse to train” with tremendous athletic ability. Her 4-year-old season was shortened by ankle and tendon trouble.
As a producer
Davona Dale produced 12 foals, of which nine started and six won. Three were stakes-placed, including 1989 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) third Le Voyageur (by Seattle Slew). She is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Just a Cat and the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Executiveprivilege and 2014 Clark Handicap (USA-G1) winner Hoppertunity.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Davona Dale was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. She was trained by John Veitch and was ridden by Jorge Velásquez throughout her racing career.
Pedigree notes
Davona Dale is inbred 4x4x4 to Bull Lea, 5x5x5x5 to Bull Lea's sire Bull Dog and 5x5 to Hyperion. She is a half sister to listed stakes winner Aly's Adita (by Alydar), dam of 2006 Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G1) winner Seek Gold (by Touch Gold). She is also a half sister to All Agleam (by Gleaming), dam of 1984 Stuttaford Fillies Guineas (SAF-G1) winner Flying Snowdrop (by Soy Numero Uno) and English Group II winner Magic Gleam (by Danzig), and to No Blues (by Nashua), second dam of 1991 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Agincourt. Another half sister to Davona Dale, Palace Gate (by Soy Numero Uno), is the dam of stakes winner Palace Revolt (by Fast Gold) and the second dam of 2003 Gran Premio de las Americas (ARG-G1) winner Jamelao. Davona Dale's dam Royal Entrance is a half sister to Sun Gate (by Tim Tam's sire, Bull Lea), dam of 1984 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Gate Dancer (by Sovereign Dancer) and two other stakes winners. The second dam of Davona Dale, Prince's Gate (by Sun Again), won the 1961 Bed o' Roses Handicap. Davona Dale's third dam, Siena Way, is a full sister to Citation.
Books and media
Davona Dale is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Davona Dale was named for a character in a novel written by Admiral Gene Markey, husband of Calumet owner Lucille Wright Markey.
- Davona Dale is the fifth filly to have captured New York's Triple Tiara series of the Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks, following Dark Mirage (1968), Shuvee (1969), Chris Evert (1974) and Ruffian (1975). Following Davona Dale, Mom's Command (1985), Open Mind (1989) and Sky Beauty (1993) also swept the series.
- Davona Dale was the sixth filly to complete the Kentucky Oaks/Coaching Club American Oaks double, a feat previously accomplished by Princess Doreen (1924), Wistful (1949), How (1951), Real Delight (1952) and Dark Mirage (1968). Since 1979, the double has been accomplished by Bold n' Determined (1980), Goodbye Halo (1988), Open Mind (1989), Lite Light (1991), Ashado (2004) and Princess of Sylmar (2013).
- Davona Dale was the sixth and last of Calumet Farm's record six winners of the Coaching Club American Oaks. The others were Twilight Tear (1944), Wistful (1949), Real Delight (1952), A Glitter (1958) and Our Mims (1977). All six were homebreds, and all but A Glitter also earned honors as American champion 3-year-old filly.
- The Davona Dale Stakes was inaugurated at Gulfstream Park in 1988. As of 2020, it is a Grade 2 race over a mile on dirt for 3-year-old fillies.
Last updated: March 31, 2021