Malibu Moon filly sparkles in Davona Dale S. (G2)

Fly So High soared to a three-length victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Davona Dale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park to put the 3-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon squarely in the picture of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks discussion.

Though she was making her first stakes start in the one-mile Davona Dale, Fly So High had been ultra-impressive in her previous two starts, breaking her maiden by nearly eight lengths Nov. 16, then taking her 2018 debut by 5 1/2-lengths Jan. 4.

Coming out of the gate, Fly So High was forced very wide by Take Charge Paula, who veered right at the start. Still four-wide going into the turn, Fly So High was in a three-way battle for the lead. She put her head in front in upper stretch, then drew clear in the final furlong to get the distance in 1:38.69.

“I thought Jose (rider Jose Ortiz) put her in good position,” said trainer Shug McGaughey. “I told him in the paddock, ‘Once she gets her feet under her, they’ll have a tough time outsprinting her.”

Now a winner of three of four starts, Fly So High has earned $190,180 for Phipps Stable. Bred by Mt. Brilliant Broodmares II, Fly So High sold for $675,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling sale and is out of Quiet Flight, whose full sister Quiet Dance is the dam of Horse of the Year Saint Liam.

Fly So High is Malibu Moon’s 46th lifetime graded stakes winner and his sixth stakes horse of 2018. Malibu Moon is coming off a stellar 2017 season when his progeny earned over $11.2 million, the most in his stallion career.