Diadura will point to Alcibiades at Keeneland

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The 2-year-old filly Diadura, 2 for 2 to start her career, came out of her win in the Arlington-Washington Lassie last Saturday in good physical condition and is likely to make her next start in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland, according to trainer Mike Stidham.

Keeneland also could be the next stop for one Stidham-trained turf-route mare, Secret Someone, while another, Zipessa, is likely to wind up at Santa Anita.

Diadura appeared to be doing “very well” coming out of the Lassie, Stidham said Wednesday, and will be shipped to Keeneland in the next couple weeks.

“We’ll work her there on dirt and point to the Alcibiades if she works well,” Stidham said.

Diadura, a Hard Spun filly, debuted at five furlongs and won the Lassie over seven, finishing well in both races while looking like a horse that would handle two turns in a race like the Alcibiades. The greater question might be whether Diadura can transfer her strong Polytrack form to dirt. Diadura boosted her Beyer Speed Figure from 69 in her debut to 81 last Saturday.

The 4-year-old filly Zipessa, meanwhile, stayed on gamely to finish a close third in the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes after contesting and setting a fast pace. That race was run at 1 3/16 miles, and Zipessa will try to stretch – and, hopefully, ration – her speed over 1 1/4 miles in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive on Oct. 1. Zipessa won the Grade 3 James Penney Memorial at Parx Racing in her previous start.

Secret Someone was only eighth in the Beverly D. but rebounded with a career-best performance capturing the $348,000 Ladies Turf on Sept. 3 at Kentucky Downs, a race she won by almost four lengths. She is likely to make her next start, Stidham said, in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland.

“A mile suits her, and she’s as good as she’s ever been, so now’s the time to take the chance,” Stidham said.

Intriguing first-time starter

A route for 2-year-old maidens, the last of eight races, is easily the most interesting race Friday. Twelve 2-year-old fillies can start, with a 13th entrant, Purple Piano, stuck on the also-eligible list. The pick is first-time starter Chapeau Chic, a filly out of Chic Dancer, who herself ran well on the Arlington grass course and produced her Emmynency, winner of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on turf last year.