Justalittlesmoke looking to rebound in Diana Stakes

Justalittlesmoke is trying to rebound after having her win streak snapped. Mayas Queen Neetee is looking to continue her own win streak. The two mares meet in Saturday’s $75,000 Diana Stakes for Ohio-registered fillies and mares at Thistledown.

Multiple stakes winner Justalittlesmoke won her first three starts of 2017 by a combined 17 1/2 lengths, and overall posted eight wins from nine starts in the twelve-month period from June 2016 to June 2017. Her only loss in that span was by a nose against males in the 2016 Best of Ohio Sprint.

But last time out, in the Pay the Man Stakes, Justalittlesmoke was second by eight lengths to the rising filly Nikki My Darling, who is now on a win streak of her own. Justalittlesmoke looks to get back on track for the team of Mast Thoroughbreds, trainer Robert Gorham, and regular rider Terry Houghton.

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Drawn just outside of Justalittlesmoke is Mayas Queen Neetee, who has won five straight races since joining Jeffrey Radosevich’s barn for owner Ron Paloucci. The mare won the Vivacious Handicap two starts back, her only stakes outing in the streak, and last time out rolled by five lengths against open company in an allowance at Thistledown. She and jockey Luis Colon will likely join Justalittlesmoke and Houghton on the front end.

Paolucci and trainer Anthony Rini also have Proper Discretion in the field for the Diana. Proper Discretion wore down stablemate Katalust to win the Scarlet and Gray Handicap by a neck at Thistledown in her last race. Before that she finished eighth in the one-mile De La Rose on the Saratoga turf.

Orientate to Luv was third, beaten 4 1/2 lengths, in the Scarlet and Gray. She finished a nose ahead of La Nina Bronca, who is also back for more. Ali Blue was fifth in the same race.