Nakatani returns from illness to upset Oaks aboard Personal Diary

DEL MAR, Calif. - Three days after he was treated in a local emergency room for a wicked summer flu, jockey Corey Nakatani guided Personal Diary to an upset win in Saturday’s $300,750 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

For the veteran rider, Personal Diary’s win in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks was the perfect start to a weekend of limited opportunities. Technically, Nakatani served the second day of a three-day suspension on Saturday for causing interference in a race on Aug. 8. He was able to ride the Del Mar Oaks because the race is designated as exempt from routine suspensions under California racing rules.

The Del Mar Oaks was a milestone occasion for trainer Victoria Oliver, her first win at the highest level. The Del Mar Oaks was the first stakes win for Personal Diary.

Nakatani, who had not ridden since last Sunday, had Personal Diary in last place in the field of eight on the turn, but rallied through the field to take the lead in the final furlong. Personal Diary ($20.20) drew off in the final sixteenth to win by 2 3/4 lengths over 11-1 Stellaris.

My Conquestadory, who set an honest pace of 23.31 and 46.80 seconds through the first half-mile, held third.

Nakatani said the pace helped his chances on Personal Diary.

“They were going quick enough that I was comfortable with where I was,” he said.

Personal Diary ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.56. Sea Queen, the 7-5 favorite, finished fourth after leading with a furlong remaining. She was followed by Famous Alice, Diversy Harbor, Odisseia , and Tepin.

Personal Diary, by City Zip, races for breeders Ian Banwell’s St George Farm Racing and G. Watts Humphrey Jr. The filly has won 2 of 10 starts and earned $278,136. Oliver said the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Keeneland in October is an autumn goal for Personal Diary.

Nakatani said his temperature rose to 103 on Wednesday. He missed his mounts on Wednesday and Thursday because of illness. He did not ride on Friday, the first day of the suspension. The Del Mar Oaks was his first win in a Grade 1 since Dance With Fate’s victory in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April.