Davona Dale (KY)

Biography

Davona Dale helped resurrect the glory days for Calumet Farm during her sensational 1979 campaign in which she won the old Filly Triple Crown consisting of the Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan, and Coaching Club American Oaks, as well as the New York Filly Triple, taking the Acorn and Mother Goose to go with her Coaching Club victory.

Bred and owned by Calumet and trained by Hall of Famer John Veitch, Davona Dale won both of her starts as a 2-year-old in 1978, including the Holly Stakes at the Meadowlands. After finishing fourth in her 3-year-old debut, Davona Dale finished second in the Shirley Jones Stakes at Gulfstream before embarking on her historic run.

Starting with the Bonnie Miss at Gulfstream, Davona Dale won eight consecutive stakes, including the Fantasy, Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan, Acorn, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club American Oaks before finishing second in the Alabama to It’s in the Air.

Following the Alabama, Davona Dale tried the colts in the Travers and finished fourth. She was again fourth in the Maskette and closed her season with a record of 8-2-0 and earnings of $555,723 from 13 starts to earn the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

Returning for three races at age 4, Davona Dale defeated It’s in the Air in the Ballerina Stakes to avenge her loss in the Alabama. Ankle and tendon issues led to Davona Dale’s retirement in September 1979 after she finished fourth in the Maskette for the second consecutive year.

Davona Dale compiled a career record of 11-2-1 from 18 starts and earnings of $641,612. She died in 1997 at the age of 21. 

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1979