Skye Diamonds rewarding Spawr's claiming gamble

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Bill Spawr was mistaken about the filly Skye Diamonds, whom he claimed for $40,000 from a comeback victory last summer at Del Mar.

“We just rolled the dice that she was worth $40,000,” Spawr said. “And we were wrong – she’s worth a hundred and forty.”

Skye Diamonds, 3 for 4 for Spawr, will be worth more if she wins the Dream of Summer Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita. The one-mile race for California-bred fillies and mares is her first route on dirt. The distance is a worry for Spawr, but sprint options were limited.

“We’d rather sprint her,” Spawr said. “She’s not built like a router. She’s more compact. That’s why I am concerned about two turns. But she’s real kind, and she relaxes. You can put her where you want. She’s not a run-off.”

Skye Diamonds will enter the $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes as the sharpest in the field. She annihilated a second-level allowance field last out by more than five lengths in 1:08.91, the only female at this meet to race six furlongs in under 1:09.

If she continues her improving pattern while stretching out, Skye Diamonds should be tough to beat. However, her main rival is established around two turns: Sheer Pleasure won the Dream of Summer last year and drops from Grade 2 races.

A three-time stakes winner and the most accomplished runner in the field, Sheer Pleasure makes her third start following a layoff. Her comeback was a sharp third in a Grade 2 sprint, followed by a next-to-last finish in a Grade 2 route.

“Her last one, I’ll take the blame,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I wheeled her back too quick [three weeks] against good horses.”

Skye Diamonds and Sheer Pleasure are the principals in the Dream of Summer, named after the California-bred Grade 1 winner who produced Grade 1 winner and promising stallion Creative Cause and Grade 2 winner Destin.

Others in the stakes are Top Notch, Time for Ebby, Ashley’s Sassy, Run for Retts, Roo’s Valentine, Mizzen Glory, Dressed to a T, and Cuddle Alert.

KEY CONTENDERS

Skye Diamonds, by First Dude
Last 3 Beyers: 95-83-76

◗ In four starts for Spawr and new owners, Skye Diamonds has earned $129,100.

◗ Skye Diamonds has won six races and $249,150 from 12 starts and continues to improve. “Where does it stop?” Spawr wondered. “Each race is better and better.”

◗ Notwithstanding a sprint physique, Skye Diamonds is bred to run on. Her sire was a Grade 1 winner at 1 1/4 miles; her dam, Exonerated, was a two-turn turf mare.

Sheer Pleasure, by Birdonthewire
Last 3 Beyers: 76-87-77

◗ In addition to the Dream of Summer last year, she won the Melair and Evening Jewel stakes in 2015, all against California-breds.

◗ Martin Garcia is her regular rider; Kent Desormeaux gets the call Sunday while Garcia rides in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby and $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks.

Roo’s Valentine, by Vronsky
Last 3 Beyers: 88-65-86

◗ She has won four races and $255,555, including the Soviet Problem for California-bred 2-year-old fillies in 2015.

◗ She scored a $51.20 upset in a second-level turf-sprint allowance last out, then scratched from the Irish O’Brien turf sprint last Saturday to run in the Dream of Summer.