By Brian DiDonato
Nobody has been within 5 1/2 lengths of Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss) so far, but the 'TDN Rising Star' will have to navigate another furlong against several foes who have flashed serious ability in their own right in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park. A 12 3/4-length debut romper at Parx Oct. 30, she ran away with Laurel's Gin Talking S. with similar ease Dec. 5, good for a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. Away slowly as the 1-10 chalk in this venue's seven-panel GII Forward Gal S. Jan. 30, the John Servis pupil extricated herself from tight quarters turning for home and blew away her competition yet again. “It was obviously not what we were expecting by any means with the break and everything, but she handled everything professionally,” Servis told the Gulfstream press office. “She did everything right. Other than getting bored a little bit and switching leads in the stretch–which she seems to be doing in every race–she's done everything right.”
Among the list of challengers is Alpha Delta Stable homebred Lewis Bay (Bernardini). The Chad Brown representative was a seven-length second-up graduate at Belmont in October before annexing Aqueduct's nine-panel GII Demoiselle S. the following month by 1 3/4 lengths over Thrilled (Uncle Mo). Thrilled was second by a nose in the grassy GIII Miss Grillo S. at Belmont Sept. 27, but checked in 11th in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Oct. 30.
R Girls a Charmer (In Summation) earned her diploma by 6 3/4 lengths for trainer Alfred McIntosh and Averill Racing, Roger Smith, CCF Racing and R and T Mizerak here Jan. 2, prompting owner Gary Barber to step in and scoop the chestnut filly up and transfer her to Mark Casse. It didn't take long for Barber to see his investment rewarded, as R Girls a Charmer cruised box to wire by seven lengths in Tampa's Gasparilla S. Jan. 23. “We had high expectations going in. She came over to us in really good order. She seems to be a very special filly,” said Norm Casse, assistant to his father. “She's really fast. The Tampa race was what we were expecting.”
Dearest (Midshipman) defeated R Girls a Charmer by two lengths in their respective debuts Nov. 28, and added an optional claiming tally Jan. 17, earning a solid 88 Beyer.
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