Skye Diamonds eyes BC Filly and Mare Sprint

CYPRESS, Calif. - On Breeders’ Cup weekend at Santa Anita last fall, Skye Diamonds finished second in an optional claimer at seven furlongs, two races after she had been claimed for $40,000 in August.

This year, Skye Diamonds may run in a Breeders’ Cup race.

After winning the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on Saturday, Skye Diamonds is a realistic contender for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar at seven furlongs on Nov. 4.

“That’s a good distance for her,” trainer Bill Spawr said in the winner’s circle of the Great Lady M. Stakes.

Spawr organized the claim of Skye Diamonds, the first time the California-bred had appeared for a price. Skye Diamonds was sixth in the Evening Jewel Stakes at Santa Anita in April 2016, and did not start again until the $40,000 claimer, a race at 6 1/2 furlongs that she won.

:: Get bonus PPs for Los Alamitos Race Course with purchase of any same-day PPs, July 7 - July 16

“She was consistent before the bad race,” Spawr said. We look at horses all the time and she looked good to me.”

Since being claimed, Skye Diamonds has won 5 of 7 starts and earned a staggering $329,100.

A 4-year-old by First Dude, Skye Diamonds won the Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile on dirt at Santa Anita in March and was second in the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes to the Grade 1 winner Vale Dori in early May in her first start in a graded stakes.

Tiago Pereira has been Skye Diamonds' regular rider since she was claimed.

“She was quirky and he got along with her,” Spawr said of Pereira. “He knew her and likes her.”

In the Great Lady M. Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs, Skye Diamonds finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of Constellation, the winner of the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita last December. Finest City, the 2016 champion female sprinter and the winner of the BC Filly and Mare Sprint last November, was third, beaten 4 3/4 lengths.

Skye Diamonds could run in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 13. A win there by Skye Diamonds would confirm her status as a leading female sprinter on the West Coast and further justify the goal of starting in the Breeders’ Cup.

:: Get a jump on the Del Mar meet and save on PPs, wagering strategies, and more

Trainer Ian Kruljac said Sunday Finest City could be raced sparingly, if at all, before the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

“She’ll make the Breeders’ Cup and we want to see how we do it,” he said. “We’ll sit down in a few weeks.

“She could do with a breather. She’s had a long campaign. I don’t see what the issue is to go into the race fresh.”