Inner should revive Diversa

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Last week, after It All Adds Up won a second-level allowance race by nearly seven lengths, trainer John Kimmel said he might point her to the Affectionately Handicap on Jan. 12 unless he thought she needed more experience.

Kimmel can afford to be patient with It All Adds Up because he could just as easily be represented in the Affectionately with Diversa, who looks well-spotted Wednesday in Aqueduct's feature, a third-level allowance race at a mile and 70 yards over the inner track.

Diversa, a 3-year-old daughter of Tabasco Cat, won both the Busanda and Busher stakes over the inner track last winter for Kimmel and co-owners Bohemia Stable and December Hill Farm. In fact, her only loss in three starts over the inner track came to Stop for Schnapps, a winner over the Kimmel-trained Strolling Belle in a classified allowance race last Friday over the inner track.

Diversa has only raced five times since last winter with a pair of second-place finishes to show for it. Assistant trainer Loretta Lusteg explained that a skin disease detected after a second-place finish in the Captive Miss Stakes at Monmouth in June sidelined Diversa for the summer.

After two poor efforts at Belmont - one which came over soft turf and that Lusteg believes is a throw out - Diversa finished second to the streaking Summer Colony in a third-level allowance race over Aqueduct's main track in November. It was Summer Colony's fourth consecutive victory.

Returning to the inner track against a short field that has speed should help Diversa return to her winning ways under Javier Castellano.

Diversa, who breaks from post 5, should stalk a contested pace between Kiss a Miss and Kingsland. Kiss a Miss comes off a 10-length score in a second-level allowance race at Philadelphia Park for trainer Walter Reese. Aaron Gryder figures to use the inside post and his filly's speed to his advantage.

Kingsland, however, figures to apply pressure from post 3 under Edgar Prado. Kingsland, a $1 million purchase by Eugene Melnyk, has won her last two starts after an erratic beginning to her career. Both wins - as well as her maiden victory 13 months ago in the mud - came on the front end.

Spicy Girl, the only older horse in the field, ships in for Alan Goldberg and could be a stretch factor if the pace is swift. A.P. Andie tries to stretch out from six furlongs to a mile and 70 yards while making her first start for trainer Allen Iwinski.

Subscribers, to purchase Aqueduct Past Performances.

Non-subscribers, to purchase Aqueduct Past Performances.

for entries.