Elusive Diva best in Las Cienegas

ARCADIA, Calif. - Elusive Diva may be bound for Kentucky after winning the third stakes of her career in Sunday's $111,000 .

Trainer Mark Glatt said Elusive Diva will be considered for $250,000 Humana Distaff Handicap over seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day in an effort to give her a Grade 1 win.

A start in that dirt race would interrupt a fine turf campaign that includes wins in Sunday's race and the minor Wishing Well Handicap in January.

In the Grade 3 Las Cienegas, Elusive Diva had a perfect trip under jockey Patrick Valenzuela. She stalked the pace until the field crossed onto the oval portion of the turf course before quickly accelerating away from her eight rivals. Sent off favored, Elusive Diva ($4.40) won by four lengths, finishing about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in a quick 1:11.66.

Quero Quero, the winner of the 2003 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap, rallied from eighth to finish second, a half-length in front of Winendynme.

Elusive Diva, 4, has won 5 of 12 starts and $354,730 for owners John Konecny and Susan and Allen Branch.