Diodoro tops standings while upgrading stock

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Robertino Diodoro has taken the early lead in the trainer standings at Oaklawn, with seven winners from 25 starters through Sunday. They include Pioneer Spirit in the $100,000 Fifth Season on Jan. 25 and Special Relativity in the $125,000 American Beauty last Saturday.

“It’s going well,” Diodoro said Tuesday. “We’ve just got to keep it going. We’re a little bit low on numbers this year compared to previous years. We’ve got a little better quality, which is exactly what we wanted, to try and win some stakes this meet. Overall, we want to win races, and at the same time, we’re trying to upgrade the barn a little bit. We’re always looking for stakes horses.”

Pioneer Spirit was a $150,000 claim out of a winning race Nov. 2. In his first start for Diodoro clients Lawrence Roman, Heads Up Racing, and Lucky Dog Stables he won the $75,000 Tenacious at Fair Grounds. Pioneer Spirit then won the Fifth Season with a Beyer of 98, the best number put up by a horse so far this meet, according to Daily Racing Form.

“We’re going to be very picky where we run him,” Diodoro said. “We want to run in the Razorback. It’s got to look like the right spot on paper once the noms come out before we make the full commitment.”

The Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback is Feb. 17 at Oaklawn.

Special Relativity, the first Oaklawn stakes winner for M and M Racing, has been retired and will be bred to Into Mischief, Diodoro said Tuesday. She’s a Grade 1-placed 5-year-old by Cowboy Cal who won 8 of 26 starts and earned $535,900. In the American Beauty, Special Relativity surged from off the pace for a powerful 4 1/4-length win.

“Her performance on Saturday really wrapped up who she is as a racehorse,” Diodoro said. “She ran a big race, always gives you 100 percent. For her to run like that on Saturday … it sounds kind of crazy, but it’s like she knew it was her final hurrah. She ran her guts out. It was very impressive. Very special.”