Skye Diamonds extends Spawr's hot hand in Dream of Summer Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. - Since Dec. 26, Bill Spawr’s stable has won 13 races from 34 starters at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.
The 4-year-old filly Skye Diamonds has led the team. She remained unbeaten in three starts this year with a stylish win in Sunday’s $101,035 Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile.
“We’ve had a lot of fun,” Spawr said of the season. “It’s easy to go to work.”
Skye Diamonds has made the job look easier. Claimed for $40,000 at Del Mar last summer, Skye Diamonds has won four of five starts since being acquired.
In the Dream of Summer, Skye Diamonds was the 4-5 favorite and had a clean trip under jockey Tiago Pereira. Skye Diamonds was second and then third in the first half-mile, stalking pacesetter Roo’s Valentine, who set early fractions of 24.44 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.08 for a half-mile.
Roo’s Valentine was clear by 2 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile to go and Spawr was fearful she would be tough to catch.
“I thought she had an easy lead,” he said.
In early stretch, Skye Diamonds began to close into Roo’s Valentine’s advantage and was within a head of the leader with a furlong to go.
“In the middle of the stretch, I thought we had her,” Spawr said.
Skye Diamonds ($3.80) won by 1 1/4 lengths over Roo’s Valentine, a 5-1 shot who was 7 3/4 lengths clear of 7-1 Dressed to a T.
Sheer Pleasure was fourth, followed by Top Notch, Time for Ebby, Cuddle Alert, and Mizzen Glory.
Skye Diamonds, by First Dude, has won 7 of 13 starts and earned $309,150. She has earned $162,700 since being claimed. Skye Diamonds won a $50,000 claimer in her first start for Spawr and owners Tom Acker, Allen Racing, and Bloom Racing Stable. She has not appeared in a claiming race since.
“I think she’s doing all right,” Spawr said.