Cookie Dough, Point of Honor among seven in Gulfstream Park Oaks

Mar 28, 2019 by James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Davona Dale (G2) runner-up Cookie Dough and Suncoast winner Point of Honor highlight a field of seven three-year-old fillies in Saturday’s $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). A final major qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, the 1 1/16-mile race awards points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top four finishers.

After recording multiple Florida-bred stakes wins as a two-year-old, Cookie Dough returned from a five-month layoff against open rivals in the March 2 Davona Dale and just missed leading wire to wire, coming up a head short in second. Stanley Gold trains the daughter of Brethren and Jeffrey Sanchez retains the mount on the dark bay.

Point of Honor enters with a two-for-two record and captured her career debut at Gulfstream in mid-December, rolling to a six-length decision in an off-the-turf maiden special weight. The George Weaver-trained Curlin filly shipped to Tampa Bay Downs and continued to dominate with a 2 ¾-length score as the favorite, posting a field-beat 94 BRIS Speed rating. Javier Castellano guides the chestnut.

Dunbar Road will receive a class check following an 8 ¾-length tally in her lone start, taking a March 3 maiden special weight at Gulfstream, and Jose Ortiz will be up for Chad Brown. Champagne Anyone, who exits a pair of thirds in the Davona Dale and Forward Gal (G3), is also part of the mix. Trainer Ian Wilkes adds blinkers and Chris Landeros rides.

Completing the field are stakes-placed Bella Ciao;  Shacklette, who exits a victory in a starter optional claiming event; and the maiden Safta.