Diva's Diamond repeats in Iowa Distaff

ALTOONA. Iowa – Diva's Diamond finished strongly to prevail by a neck in a dramatic finish to Friday night's $100,000 Iowa Distaff, winning the race for the second consecutive year.

With a four-wide rush under jockey Ramon Vazquez, Diva's Diamond ($7.20) got past eventual third-place finisher More Than Even and fended off the surging Flashy American, who won the race in 2013. Less than three lengths covered the top five fillies and mares in the six-horse field.

Diva's Diamond, who had won the May 25 Wild Rose here in preparation for the Distaff, collected $60,000 on Friday for trainer Karl Broberg and owner Jerry Namy. The 6-year-old Crafty Shaw mare covered the Distaff's 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.05.

Flashy American, favored at 6-5, swept up five wide for second place and ended up a half-length ahead of More Than Even, who had edged clear inside the furlong marker. Ambusher and Pretty Fancy both finished well but could only manage fourth and fifth.