Davona Dale: Can this one-turn contest produce an Oaks contender?

Sunday's $150,000 Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park features some of the area's top 3-year-old fillies with Kentucky Oaks aspirations. But the dynamic of the race changed in 2007 and Sunday's outcome will very likely still leave some questions to be answered when talking contenders for the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks (G1) on the first Friday in May.

The Davona Dale was always a two-turn race, and in recent history it had been run at the Oaks distance of nine furlongs before last year when it was turned back to a one-turn mile. That is worth noting, especially when looking at the makeup of this year's renewal. In past years, the Davona Dale proved to be a key prep race for the Oaks at the longer distances, producing 1999 Oaks winner Silverbulletday, as well as recent Oaks favorite Sis City ('05) - not to mention champion Wait a While and millionaire Glitter Woman.

This year's Davona Dale cast looks very talented, but because of the long, one-turn setup it has drawn only two fillies that have ever been around two turns. There are several fillies in Sunday's field – top contenders in fact – that have the sprinter/miler profile, and those will have the advantage at this trip with only one turn to deal with over a track that typically favors speed.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Game Day will take most of the beating here, and deservingly so after her impressive romp last out in the Old Hat (G2) at Gulfstream where she ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.80. She has plenty of stamina breeding being by Menifee out of a Gone West mare, but she looks like she has an awful lot of ability around one turn which leaves concerns about her stretching out. The problem is that a one-turn mile likely won't tell the whole story, so if she handles this group like she'll be expected to do by her tote board odds, what will that really tell us about her as an Oaks contender? The Davona Dale would have sorted out the sprinters in the past, but we'll likely have to wait for the 1 1/8-mile Bonnie Miss next out to learn more about these South Florida fillies.

American County is a very talented runner in here, but she is another that more closely fits the profile of a sprinter than true route horse. The same can be said for J Z Warrior, who is by Harlan's Holiday but is also a half-sister to graded stakes-winning sprinter E Z Warrior. J Z Warrior should relish this one-turn mile trip, but there are concerns about her handling two turns down the road.

Three fillies that could really spring to the top of the Oaks picture are Bsharpsonata, Informed Decision and Robbie's Gal – all fillies with profiles to excel around two turns. Bsharpsonata must overcome her rail draw, but she has been on a roll as of late and has matured into a top filly. At two, Bsharpsonata was asked to do a lot early after breaking her maiden in her first start. She clearly was not ready to sprint with the more precocious stakes debutantes of her generation, but as the distances stretched out she improved by leaps and bounds.

Her last win turning back to seven panels in the Forward Gal (G2) shows just how far she's come in a short period of time, and the daughter of Pulpit is certainly eligible to win this. She is clearly Game Face's top challenger.

Informed Decision is an intriguing filly, as she enters 2-for-2 at sprint distances and looks like she's begging for more ground. You won't find a better looking filly in the field, as this gray daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos is an exceptional physical specimen. But this won't be a beauty contest, and the gray filly will need to move forward and show she can compete with this group and be a legit Oaks hopeful.

Robbie's Gal has been ultra consistent at all distances and surfaces, and her late-closing second to American County last out in the Sunshine Millions Oaks shows she loves the track and should love the longer trip Sunday. But she will need to prove she is of this class level.

It honestly would not be a surprise to see any of the six fillies win Sunday – but depending on which one does will determine whether the Davona Dale can be looked back on as a viable Kentucky Oaks prep like it once was.

I'll give Game Face the edge Sunday off her impressive last race...But I'll give Bsharpsonata and Informed Decision the best chance to prove down the road that they are the most Oaks-worthy fillies from this year's Davona Dale.