The Meadows: I Said Diamonds, Darlinonthebeach turn in fast miles in PA Sire Stakes

I Said Diamonds broke the stakes record, and then Darlinonthebeach topped the new mark minutes later in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Friday evening at The Meadows.

Driven by Jim Pantaleano, I Said Diamonds took the lead on the outside at the 26 1/5 opening quarter in her $80,680 division, then hit the half in 55 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:22.3. Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron) tried to mount a first-over rally in the final panel, but I Said Diamonds turned her away, winning by a length and a quarter in 1:50. Newborn Sassy (Tim Tetrick) was third.

“I was just waiting for the dust to settle,” said Pantaleano. “I saw the outside horses leaving really hard, and I did not want to get into a speed duel. She was really relaxed on the lead, which obviously is a good attribute in a racehorse.”

Matias Ruiz trains I Said Diamonds, a filly by Well Said, for owner Little Bapa LLC. of California. This was her sixth win from ten starts, and she has earned $286,060. Sent off at 1-5, I Said Diamonds returned $2.40.

In the other $81,080 split it was a furious early duel between Darlinonthebeach (Dave Miller) and Lispatty (Pantaleano), with the former forcing the latter into the pocket at the 25 4/5 opening quarter. Darlinonthebeach maintained the top spot through middle-half stations of 54 3/5 and 1:21 4/5, then had a 28 second final kicker in reserve to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:49 4/5. Lispatty, sent off at 86-1, held second with Dan Patch Award winner Pure Country (Brett Miller) third after a second-over trip.

Darlinonthebeach, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, is trained by Nancy Johansson for owner/breeder White Birch Farm of New Jersey. Darlinonthebeach scored her sixth victory in her 15th try, and she has banked $287,931. She returned $7.80 to win.

“When I saw the first quarter in 25 4/5, I said to the girl who takes care of her, ‘Oh no, not again,’” Johansson said in regards to the early duel, which also happened to Darlinonthebeach in the Miss Pennsylvania final earlier this month. “The difference today was that David was able to back her off the second quarter, so she had a little bit left in the tank when they came at her. She raced super.”