9-year-old L'il Grazen puts five-race win streak on the line
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Li’l Grazen celebrated her 9-year-old birthday last month by winning her fifth straight race. She’ll be looking to keep the streak alive Sunday, when the ageless mare goes for six in a row in the eighth race at Oaklawn Park.
The first-level allowance is for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Li’l Grazen, who began racing in 2016, was claimed four times last year. Her current connections, owner John Holleman and trainer Robertino Diodoro, took her for $12,500 on Sept. 5 at Del Mar. Li’l Grazen won that day, her second victory in a streak that started Aug. 4 at Del Mar. She’s since won at Keeneland, Remington Park, and Oaklawn.
“She’s pretty tough,” Diodoro said. “She’s all racehorse. She’s a nice, big old mare and when they run as well as she does at her age, she just loves her job. She’s nice to have in the barn.”
Li’l Grazen has won 11 races from 49 starts and can go over $400,000 in earnings Sunday. Diodoro said there were a few different reasons for dropping a claim for the daughter of Grazen.
“She likes to win, and she was eligible for some starters and she had her [first level allowance condition] left,” he said. “She did have a lot of wins on her form, but at the same time, she had some good conditions for Oaklawn. Those are a few of the reasons why we claimed her.”
Cristian Torres has the mount from post 7.
Diodoro also will saddle Violent Point, a seven-time winner who breaks from the rail under Ramsey Zimmerman.
“Hopefully, we get out and get away from there,” Diodoro said. “I definitely like shortening her up to five and a half. She’s a nice mare, too.”
Violent Point races for Surging Sky Ventures.
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