Diodoro plans to have divisions at Saratoga, Del Mar
Midwest-based trainer Robertino Diodoro plans to have divisions of his stable on both coasts this summer. He said he is scheduled to have about 12 horses at Saratoga and about 15 to 20 at Del Mar.
Diodoro is currently racing at Churchill Downs, Canterbury, Lone Star Park, and Louisiana Downs, and in the winter is based at Oaklawn Park.
Diodoro last competed at Del Mar on a regular basis in 2017. He said one of the motivating factors for the decision to send runners back to the summer meet was the communication he’s had with Del Mar racing secretary David Jerkens.
“We’re kind of excited about it,” Diodoro said. “I give David Jerkens a lot of credit. The last couple of years he’s been on me about it. I always say anytime a racetrack puts in the effort and the shipping incentives and the P.R. work like Del Mar, you always like to try to help that track. We brought horses back up into Canada this year – kind of a lot of the same thing, too. They’re trying. And it’s hard to turn down Del Mar. They’ve got great purses.”
Diodoro’s last starter at Del Mar was Lone Rock, who won the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes during Breeders’ Cup weekend in 2021.
Other top runners in his barn include Grade 2 winner Un Ojo, who is eventually ticketed for Saratoga as a runner who was bred in New York. He worked five-eighths in 1:00.80 on Wednesday at Churchill.
Lucarelli nears milestone
Trainer Frank Lucarelli is nearing a milestone of 2,000 career Thoroughbred wins in North America. He had 1,997 wins through Thursday.
Lucarelli is a longtime fixture at Emerald Downs and also is currently racing at Lone Star Park. His top runners have included Stormy Lucy, winner of the Grade 2 Santa Ana in 2014 at Santa Anita and Gallant Son, winner of the Grade 3 Inglewood Handicap in 2010 at Hollywood Park.