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. Her important foals are as follow:
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 five-time American champion sire Bull Lea, 5x5x5x5 to Bull Lea's sire Bull Dog (the American champion sire of 1943), and 5x5 to six-time English/Irish champion sire 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 2 winner Magic Gleam (by Danzig) and third dam of 2008 Cape Fillies Guineas Stakes (SAF-G1) winner Sparkling Gem and French Group 3 winner Sub Rose. In addition, Davona Dale is a half sister 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), the second dam of 2003 Gran Premio de las Americas (ARG-G1) winner Jamelao, and the third dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Weigelia.
Davona Dale's dam Royal Entrance is a winning 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 stakes winners Harry's Secret Joy (by What a Pleasure) and Another Forbes (by Irish Castle). The second dam of Davona Dale, Prince's Gate (by Sun Again), won the 1961 Bed o' Roses Handicap and is a half sister to 1971 Manhattan Handicap winner Happy Way (by Herbager). Davona Dale's third dam, Siena Way, is a full sister to Citation. and a half sister to Mermaid (by Blenheim II), dam of 1960 Kent Stakes winner Lady's Maid (by Prophets Thumb).
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: January 23, 2022
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. Her important foals are as follow:
- Rita (1988, by Alydar) won one of nine starts. She is the dam of 1996 Cowdin Stakes (USA-G2) winner Just a Cat (by Storm Cat).
- Polish Maid (1989, by Danzig) won one of her three starts. She is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Hoppertunity and 2012 Chandelier Stakes (USA-G1) winner Executiveprivilege.
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 five-time American champion sire Bull Lea, 5x5x5x5 to Bull Lea's sire Bull Dog (the American champion sire of 1943), and 5x5 to six-time English/Irish champion sire 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 2 winner Magic Gleam (by Danzig) and third dam of 2008 Cape Fillies Guineas Stakes (SAF-G1) winner Sparkling Gem and French Group 3 winner Sub Rose. In addition, Davona Dale is a half sister 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), the second dam of 2003 Gran Premio de las Americas (ARG-G1) winner Jamelao, and the third dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Weigelia.
Davona Dale's dam Royal Entrance is a winning 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 stakes winners Harry's Secret Joy (by What a Pleasure) and Another Forbes (by Irish Castle). The second dam of Davona Dale, Prince's Gate (by Sun Again), won the 1961 Bed o' Roses Handicap and is a half sister to 1971 Manhattan Handicap winner Happy Way (by Herbager). Davona Dale's third dam, Siena Way, is a full sister to Citation. and a half sister to Mermaid (by Blenheim II), dam of 1960 Kent Stakes winner Lady's Maid (by Prophets Thumb).
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 2022, it is a Grade 2 race over a mile on dirt for 3-year-old fillies.
Last updated: January 23, 2022