Justalittlesmoke extends winning streak to five in Diana
Justalittlesmoke solidified her status as the season’s top older Ohio-bred female when she collected her fifth straight victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Diana Stakes at Thistledown.
The six-furlong sprint was a virtual replay of the Scarlet and Gray Handicap three weeks ago. Just like in that six-furlong race, the 4-year-old Justalittlesmoke ($2.60) sat a couple lengths off the early pace set by the 3-year-old filly Proper Discretion, who went the opening half-mile in 45.58 seconds.
When jockey T.D. Houghton asked Justalittlesmoke to launch her bid, she responded, put her head in front of Proper Discretion at the eighth pole, and drew clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths. The winning time was 1:10.60.
Unlike the Scarlet and Gray, where Proper Discretion held on for second, this time 28-1 outsider Floral Sky rallied to nip her at the wire by a nose for the place.
A daughter of Smoke Glacken trained by Bob Gorham for Mast Thoroughbreds, Justalittlesmoke is now 5 for 6 this season and 12 for 19 overall with earnings of $578,170.
She will likely be pointed to the Best of Ohio Distaff at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 29 at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
Because just five horses ran following the scratch of La Nina Bronca, there was no place or show wagering.