Diamond Dust looks to stay perfect in Cleveland Kindergarten

Diamond Dust has sparkled in his first two starts to establish himself as the leader of the Ohio-bred 2-year-olds. However, two newcomers have posted impressive debuts, signaling they’re ready to become players in the statebred ranks, and those youngsters all converge in the $75,000 Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes on Saturday at Thistledown.

Diamond Dust is coming off a 4 1/2-length victory in the Hoover Stakes for Ohio-bred juveniles on July 7 at Belterra. He posted a Beyer Speed Figure of 58, narrowly the best in the Kindergarten field, as he remained unbeaten in two starts. Diamond Dust races as a homebred for the partnership of WinStar Farm and trainer Tim Hamm and is a gelded son of WinStar’s young stallion Paynter.

Among those stepping up directly from maiden company to take on Diamond Dust is Magic Tale, a smashing debut winner in late June. Trained by Kelly Breen, the son of Tale of the Cat blitzed the field by 13 1/2 lengths on a muddy Thistledown track, posting a Beyer of 56.

Ohio Player was a 7 1/2-length maiden winner in early July at Belterra, earning a Beyer of 51. Ohio Player, from the final crop of Alphabet Soup, is trained by Larry Rivelli.

Into the Out, by leading freshman sire Goldencents, was second to Ohio Player on debut. He then stepped up to win next out with a Beyer of 51. Completing the field is Private Drive, a distant second to Magic Tale in that maiden race and then fifth in the Hoover.