Diamonds Dena goes for third straight

Beginning May 17 last year, Diamonds Dena reeled off three straight wins at Emerald Downs. She will try to accomplish the same feat when she runs in a $15,000 claiming race that headlines the seven-race card at Emerald on Friday evening.

Trained by Manual Ortiz, Diamonds Dena is clearly the one to beat but is no cinch in the one-mile race for fillies and mares, which drew seven horses.

In her two previous wins this year, going a mile in a $10,000 claiming race May 20 and for $15,000 on June 19, Diamond Dena rallied from a stalking position. In her latest win, she got bogged down on the rail behind Seeking the Light, who was setting a moderate pace. Once clear, she finished full of run and was able to wear down Seeking the Light to win by a half-length.

With other speed in the field Friday, particularly Ronda Rocks, jockey Erick Lopez likely will let Diamonds Dena settle early after she breaks from post 5.

The main threat could come from her stablemate Cup of Soup, who finished third in Diamonds Dena’s last win. She passed Seeking the Light in midstretch but stalled late.

Among the Stars, trained by Candi Tollett, is coming off a couple of dull races sprinting but could be dangerous with the move to her favorite distance.

KEY CONTENDERS

Diamonds Dena, by Northern Afleet
Last 3 Beyers: 67-67-21

◗ With a 5-1-0 record from seven starts at Emerald, she obviously thrives on the surface. The only concern is she is picking up four pounds off her latest win. However, she carried the same weight, 123 pounds, when she won the first race in last year’s winning streak.

Among the Stars, by Harbor the Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 29-58-18

◗ She will appreciate the class relief and the move to a distance at which she has won five of her six starts.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Since Tollett started training full time in 2015, she has a 36 percent strike rate with horses going from a sprint to a route.

Cup of Soup, by Einstein
Last 3 Beyers: 66-53-59

◗ She looked like the winner in midstretch in Diamonds Dena’s latest win but couldn’t finish the deal. She could be sitting on a big effort in the third start of her form cycle, and with a four-pound swing in the weights, she could turn the tables.

Seeking the Light, by Heatseeker
Last 3 Beyers: 66-57-66

◗ Trained by Blaine Wright, she was very game in defeat behind Diamonds Dena and could take them a long way if she can clear early. That is a big if with Ronda Rocks breaking from the inside.