Tonalist’s Shape brings unbeaten record to Gulfstream Park Oaks

Mar 25, 2020 by James Scully/TwinSpires.com

A convincing winner of the Davona Dale (G2) and Forward Gal (G3), Tonalist’s Shape can sweep the Kentucky Oaks qualifiers at Gulfstream with a victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). The unbeaten filly tops an overflow field of 14, including a pair of also-eligibles, in the 1 1/16-mile race.

As part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, the Gulfstream Park Oaks will award points on a 100-40-20-10 scale toward a berth in the Run for the Lillies at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Oaks has been rescheduled for Sept. 4.

From the first crop of 2014 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tonalist, Tonalist’s Shape enters with a 5-for-5 record. She exits a wire-to-wire triumph in the the one-mile Davona Dale, and the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained filly will make her two-turn debut Saturday. Tyler Gaffalione retains the mount.

Spice Is Nice will seek a measure of redemption after finishing second as the 3-5 favorite in the Davona Dale. A smashing 12-length debut winner on Jan. 12, the Curlin filly will make her third career start for Todd Pletcher, and Javier Castellano picks up the mount. Pletcher will also send out Mrs. S, who exits a convincing wire-to-wire maiden score on Feb. 16. John Velazquez rides.

Lucrezia invades from Tampa Bay Downs off back-to-back wins in the Suncoast S. and Sandpiper S. By Into Mischief, the bay filly rolled to five-length decision in the Feb. 8 Suncoast, and Julien Leparoux takes over the reins for trainer Arnaud Delacour.

Other contenders include Demoiselle (G2) winner Lake Avenue, who is eligible to improve after returning with a fourth in the Busher S. at a one-turn mile; Davona Dale third-placer Dream Marie; and turf stakes runner-up Sunset Promise.