Lucky to Win, Skye Diamonds opt for easier spot
ARCADIA, Calif. – The jump from maiden races to stakes backfired for the fillies Lucky to Win and Skye Diamonds last month.
Lucky to Win won a maiden race at Del Mar on Nov. 20 and was sixth of seven in the Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 5. Skye Diamonds beat maidens at Los Alamitos on Dec. 5 but was seventh of nine in the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 27.
Both fillies were nominated for the $200,000 California Cup Oaks on Saturday but have been entered in a first-level optional $50,000 claimer for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs on Friday. There are two optional claimers for California-breds on Friday’s eight-race program. The seventh race on the hillside turf course drew a full field of older fillies and mares.
Race 6
Key Contenders
Lucky to Win, by Lucky J.H.
(Last 3 Beyers: 32-49-47)
◗ Lucky to Win drew the outside post. Owned by Harris Farms, Lucky to Win beat maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar. Trainer Sean McCarthy blames himself for the loss in the Soviet Problem Stakes.
“That was my mistake,” McCarthy said. “I ran her back too quick. I took a shot. The allowance makes more sense.”
Skye Diamonds, by First Dude
(Last 3 Beyers: 60-63-59)
◗ Bettors are likely to forgive Skye Diamonds for the loss in the Blue Norther Stakes on turf and focus on the filly’s maiden win on Dec. 5. Ridden by David Lopez in that race, Skye Diamonds stalked the pace and rallied through the long stretch at Los Alamitos to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
“We experimented with the grass to see how she’d handle that, and she didn’t handle it too well,” trainer Mike Machowsky said.
Be a Lady, by Cindago
(Last 3 Beyers: 55-56-51)
◗ Be a Lady has won her last three starts and has been claimed in her last two races – for $25,000 at Del Mar on Nov. 19 and here for $40,000 on Jan. 1. Now trained by Mike Pender, Be a Lady also was nominated for the Cal Cup Oaks.
◗ Be a Lady is a threat from off the pace and will be ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano, who has been aboard for her last two wins.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Be a Lady. Trainer Michael Pender is 12-0-0-0 over the past five years in the first start off the claim with last-out winners (eight out of the money at odds of 4-1 or lower). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Dragon Flower. Trainer Rosemary Trela is 16-5-4-0 with a $3.33 ROI over the past year in dirt sprints. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Race 7
Key Contenders
Q’Viva, by Tribal Rule
(Last 3 Beyers: 74-68-68)
◗ Q’Viva, trained by Mark Glatt, won a starter allowance on the hillside turf course last June in her sixth start over the course. More recently, Q’Viva was fifth in a $32,000 claimer against open company on the hillside Jan. 1, losing to Pearl de Vere, who has subsequently won.
Silver Mojave, by McCann’s Mojave
(Last 3 Beyers: 72-71-49)
◗ Silver Mojave has yet to win on turf after seven starts but was a game second in an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 20. She was beaten a half-length by Q’Viva in the starter allowance last June and is a threat from off the pace.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Warrenscrystalized. Won a maiden race down the hill in his debut, where he beat a field that went 9-4-1-2 in their immediate next starts. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Warrens Goldnugget. Trainer Matthew Chew is 32-4-4-2 with a $5.48 ROI over the past five years in downhill turf sprints at Santa Anita, and 7-2-0-0, $18.51 ROI going route to sprint in those races. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Marnays Angel. Trainer Carla Gaines is 20-1-0-3 with a $0.39 ROI over the past five years going dirt to turf in downhill sprints at Santa Anita. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Behest. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 19-2-4-1 with a $1.01 ROI over the past five years going dirt to turf in downhill sprints at Santa Anita. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan