Fillies in the Travers Stakes

 

Fillies in the Travers Stakes

Joseph Di Rienzi

There is high anticipation that the sterling three-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna will contest the 155^th edition of the Travers Stakes, contested this year on August 24 at Saratoga Racetrack. The dark bay filly sired by Fast Anna, owned by the partnership of Alaali, Edwards, Hicks and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek). Trained by Sherri’s husband Kenny McPeek, Thorpedo Anna has absolutely dominated her female peers this year in winning in succession the Fantasy Stakes, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks (CCA Oaks). Trainer McPeek in a sporting gesture but also mindful of thoroughbred racing history has recently announced that his filly will forego racing against her own sex in the Alabama Stakes on August 17 and, instead, point for the Travers Stakes run one week later. In doing so, Thorpedo Anna, if she succeeds, will join seven other fillies who have captured what has been called the Midsummer Derby. However, the last female to be declared the winner was Lady Rotha in 1915 and that via a disqualification.

In what can be considered “modern times” (at least since the 1960s), four female horses have attempted the win the Travers and none have succeeded. The four – Cicada (in 1962), Chris Evert (1974), Davona Dale (1979) and Wonder Gadot (2018) were all voted champions and the first three are enshrined in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Yet, none could conquer their respective male counterparts in the Travers. I will look at each of these distaffers’ racing careers paying particular attention to their preparation and performance in the Travers.

Cicada
(Keeneland Library/Thoroughbred Times Collection)

Meadow Stable’s Cicada, named after a type of seven-year locust, was a bay home bred born in 1959 sired by Bryan G, small of stature, but giant in class and determination. Her juvenile year saw her dominate her contemporaries with wins early in the year in the National Stallion (filly division) and Blue Hen Stakes. Cicada also had in the money performances in the Polly Drummond, Colleen, Astoria, and Fashion Stakes. She finished the year in a flourish with victories successively in the Schuylerville, Spinaway, Matron, Astarita, Frizette, and Gardenia Stakes. In the Gardenia run at Garden State Racetrack in New Jersey, Cicada vanquished her opposition by over 10 lengths. In all she won 11 of her 16 starts always placing in the top three positions.

As a sophomore in 1962, she had faced males once prior to the Travers losing in a controversial decision by a nose to top three-year-old Ridan in the Florida Derby. Meadow Stable owner Christopher T. Chenery along with trainer J. H. “Casey” Hayes entered Cicada in both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby which are traditionally contested, respectively, on the first Friday and Saturday in May. Also entered in the Derby was Cicada’s stablemate Sir Gaylord, the pre-Derby favorite. Due to an apparent lack of communication, Cicada was left to run in the Oaks (which she won easily) despite the fact that Sir Gaylord had suffered a career ending injury on the morning of the filly race.

After the Kentucky Oaks, Cicada triumphed in the Acorn Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park and then was upset by Bramalea in the CCA Oaks. She preceded to lose the Delaware Oaks (finishing third), the Delaware Handicap (by a nose to older mare Seven Thirty), and the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga (third).

Despite a four race losing streak, Casey Hayes put Cicada in the Travers which was billed as a showdown between Ridan and Belmont Stakes winner Jaipur. The running of this edition was one of the most memorable Travers in its storied history. Ridan and Jaipur raced head-and-head in a titanic battle through the entire contest. Towards the end, they were staggering but managed to stay one-two with Jaipur thrusting his nose in front at the finish. Cicada, who was bumped at the start, tried to reach contention approaching the far turn but faded in the stretch to finish seventh and last.

Cicada concluded the year with victories in the Beldame and Jersey Belle Stakes, and her connections accepted her second award, this time as Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. In an abbreviated campaign in 1963 as a four-year-old, Cicada did enough to win her third-year end championship, this time as Older Filly and Mare. Cicada’s final accolade would be induction into racing’s Hall of Fame in 1967.

Chris Evert (on left)
(Bob Coglianese photo)

Carl Rosen’s Chris Evert, named after the great female tennis player, was an attractive chestnut daughter of Swoon’s Son from the mare Miss Carmie by T. V. Lark. After beginning her career in September 1973, she was second by a half-length to Bundler in the Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park. She then reversed that decision by traveling to Kentucky to Keeneland Racetrack and winning the Golden Rod Stakes, defeating Bundler by 1¼ lengths. Chris Evert finished her two-year-old filly campaign by returning to New York and winning the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Acorn Stakes at one mile was the first in the New York series of major races for sophomore females. The 1974 edition was split in two divisions with Chris Evert taking the second in defeating Clear Copy by ¾ of a length with Fiesta Libre third. Quaze Quilt, the Kentucky Oaks winner, was a head back in fourth and the previous year’s Two-Year-Old Filly Champion, Talking Picture, was fifth. In winning the Acorn, the Joseph Trovato trainee was making only her second start of the year having finished third in the Comely Stakes. The 9 furlong Mother Goose Stakes brought together most of the prominent runners in the divisions of the Acorn. On a sloppy track, Chris Evert prevailed by a ½ length over Maud Muller. Quaze Quilt finished third, 5 lengths back. In the finale of the series, the 1½ mile CCA Oaks, Chris Evert proved her superiority and, in some ways, outran her pedigree by winning by 3½ lengths over Fiesta Libre who had a ½ length on Maud Muller.

After her completion of the New York Filly Triple Crown series, Chris Evert travelled west to meet the challenge of the best three-year-old filly in California, Miss Musket. Hollywood Park staged a match race between these two with a “winner take all purse” at 1¼ miles. Match races are rarely satisfying sporting events, and this would be an embarrassment. The eastern based filly completely dominated, running her rival to submission, so by the time Chris Evert reached the homestretch she was all by herself. The official margin was an unimaginable 50 lengths, but it was mainly due to the rider of Miss Musket easing her, realizing she was hopelessly beaten.

Chris Evert returned east to Saratoga and made her next start in the time-honored Alabama Stakes. She was the prohibitive favorite, but Quaze Quilt racing at 114 lb. held off Chris Evert (under 124 lb.) by a neck in the 1¼ mile race. Notwithstanding her defeat, Chris Evert’s connections wheeled her back one week later in the “Midsummer Derby” to face Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Little Current and Haskell Stakes victor Holding Pattern, who in taking the Monmouth Park race had defeated the double classic winner. On a sloppy track, Holding Pattern (121 lb.) caught Chris Evert (121 lb.) in mid-stretch and was able to repel the belated rally of Little Current (126 lb.) by a diminishing neck. The double classic winner in turn finished 4½ lengths ahead of a valiant Chris Evert.

The filly did not race the rest of 1974, but she had accomplished enough to be the overwhelming choice for the Eclipse Award for Three-Year-Old Filly. A brief campaign on the West Coast as a four-year-old in 1975 saw Chris Evert, carrying 128 lb., win the La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita Racetrack. In what would be the final race of her career, she was unplaced in the Santa Margarita Handicap. Chris Evert was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1988.

 

Davona Dale
(BloodHorse photo)

Davona Dale was a tall, elegant bay daughter of Best Turn out of a Tim Tam mare - an all-Calumet Farm family. Raced only twice as a juvenile, she drew attention with an impressive win in a minor stakes race, the Holly Handicap at the Meadowlands Racetrack. After finishing fourth against males in the Tropical Park Derby in January 1979, Davona Dale was second to Candy Éclair, Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1978, in the 6 furlong Shirley Jones Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The daughter of Best Turn then reversed the order by running down Candy Éclair in the 7 furlong Bonnie Miss Stakes, winning by ¾ of a length in a time only 1/5 second slower than the track record. Trainer John Veitch shipped his ballerina to the Fair Grounds Racetrack where Davona Dale won the 8½ furlong Debutante Stakes by 7 lengths. Next on the calendar for the Calumet color bearer was the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park where, after overcoming a near disastrous start, she won by 2½ lengths.

In the 1 1/16 mile Kentucky Oaks, Davona Dale faced Candy Éclair again. The latter set the pace with the former making a run on the outside around the far turn. Candy Éclair, tiring from her early efforts, carried Davona Dale very wide, but nonetheless the Calumet runner drew clear winning by 4¼ lengths on a very sloppy track. Candy Éclair in suffering only her second lifetime loss, finished fourth. In winning the Kentucky Oaks, Davona Dale joined company with five other Calumet Farm heroines who have been draped with the traditional lilies on Oaks Day.

Davona Dale made thoroughbred racing history by completing what can unofficially be called “The Double Triple”. Having won the Kentucky Oaks on Derby Eve, the daughter of Best Turn took the 1 1/16 mile Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack on Preakness Eve, winning by 4¼ lengths. Eight days later, Davona Dale added the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park by 2¼ lengths. Continuing her dominance of her sex, Davona Dale found the stretch out to 9 furlongs no problem in the Mother Goose Stakes, cruising to the lead down the backstretch and drawing away to win by 10 lengths. The CCA Oaks at 1½ miles served as the capstone for Davona Dale completing the two triples. Winning by 8 lengths, the Calumet filly swept the New York Filly Triple Series, but in winning the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan and the CCA Oaks, Davona Dale won each of the female counterpart races in the American Triple Crown series, hence a Double Triple. 

After a brief freshening, Davona Dale resumed racing in the Alabama Stakes. She was heavily favored but was unable to catch front running It’s in the Air, the previous year’s Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, losing by 1½ lengths. Despite her defeat, Davona Dale was entered a week later in the Travers Stakes reminiscent of Chris Evert who also finished second in the Alabama. Without the presence of classic winners Spectacular Bid and Coastal, the field for the Midsummer Derby included Jim Dandy Stakes victor Private Account, Smarten who had won Derbies in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois and General Assembly, back from the Triple Crown series with a sharp 7 furlong prep race win at Saratoga. On a sloppy surface, Davona Dale was the lukewarm favorite, but the day belonged to General Assembly. Reminding everyone of his good Saratoga form of last year when he won the Hopeful Stakes and doing a splendid imitation of his sire, Secretariat, he took the lead early and ran an astounding race, destroying the field by 15 lengths in new track record time. In second place was Private Account who had 11 lengths on third finishing Smarten. Davona Dale clearly off form was a very distant fourth.

Davona Dale would race once more in the year, finishing fourth in the Maskette Stakes at Belmont Park. Despite her three consecutive defeats, her early year accomplishments were enough to award her connections an Eclipse for Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

Trainer John Veitch brought his star back from an injury as a four-year-old for a brief campaign in 1980. After finishing third in a conditioned race, Davona Dale won the 7 furlong Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga defeating her old rival It’s in the Air. Returning for another try at the Maskette Stakes, the Calumet Farm color bearer was giving weight to two outstanding sophomore fillies – Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk and Kentucky Oaks victress Bold ‘n Determined. Davona Dale had the lead in mid-stretch but could not withstand the rallies by Bold ‘n Determined and Genuine Risk who finished first and second, respectively, a nose apart with Davona Dale fading to fourth.

The Maskette was to be her last race as she was retired and returned to her home in Lexington, KY. Davona Dale’s induction in the Hall of Fame came in 1985.

Wonder Gadot
(BloodHorse photo)

The last modern female racer to attempt the Travers was known more for her hardiness than her brilliance. Gary Barber’s Wonder Gadot shared a similarity with Chris Evert in that she was named after a well-known public figure (the actress Gal Gadot who has played the film character Wonder Woman). Trained throughout her career by Mark Casse, the Canadian bred dark bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was voted the 2017 Sovereign Award for Two-Year-Old Filly in Canada after winning the Mazarine Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack and the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct.

She began 2018 with in the money performances in the following: second (beaten a neck) in the Silverbulletday Stakes, third in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, third in the Fair Grounds Oaks (all at the Fair Grounds Racetrack), and second (beaten a nose) in the Fantasy Stakes.

Wonder Gadot ran a sterling race in the Kentucky Oaks against future multiple champion Monomoy Girl, losing by a ½ length having been repeatedly brushed in the stretch by the latter. (A foul claim by Wonder Gadot’s rider was denied by the Churchill Downs stewards.)

After the Oaks, trainer Mark Casse sent Wonder Gadot to Canada to contest its sophomore classics. Finishing second in the Woodbine Oaks, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was outfitted with blinkers for the Queens Plate and soared in the 1¼ mile race to a 4¾ length victory, handily defeating her male opponents. Contesting the 9½ furlong Prince of Wales Stakes (again against males) in the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, jockey John Velazquez sent Wonder Gadot to the front early over the sloppy surface, and she easily vanquished her foes by 5¾ lengths.

Flushed with victories over males in Canada, Wonder Gadot’s connections shipped her back to the U. S. for the Travers Stakes. The thought was she was superior enough at 1¼ mile to defeat any horse of her age male or female currently racing. (Triple Crown winner Justify had been recently retired). Unfortunately, that was not the case, as Catholic Boy, a major winner over grass proved on this day equally adept over a dirt surface winning the historic race by 4 lengths over pacesetting Mendelssohn. Wonder Gadot, after being prominent early, faded badly in the stretch to finish tenth and last.

In her final races in 2018, Wonder Gadot finished a distant third in the Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing and ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, held that year at Churchill Downs. Despite only two victories in 2018, her connections were given Sovereign Awards on her behalf for Three-Year-Old Filly Champion and Canadian Horse of the Year.

 After two losses at the start of her four-year-old career in 2019, she was retired.

A pattern emerges from examining the careers of the four females discussed above. Collectively, their best performances occurred before their participation in the Travers Stakes. Yes, Cicada did win a championship as a four-year-old, and both Chris Evert and Davona Dale each won a stakes race later in their respective careers, but all four were never as dominant, even against their own sex as they were prior to the Travers. Did the effort against males take too much out of these fillies? Each horse is unique, but the record does not bode well for Thorpedo Anna as she attempts to be the first filly in over a century to win the Midsummer’s Derby. All her connections can do is hope she is the barrier breaker. That is why we race.