Sunland: El Diario's distance suits Pyrite On My Mind

Pyrite On My Mind will be moving back to the distance of her last win when she takes on eight other fillies and mares in the $50,000 El Diario at Sunland Park on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong race also drew Alydarla, who last year was stakes-placed in New York and Florida, and African Rose, winner of the $55,000 Zia Park Distaff in November.

Pyrite On My Mind registered her last win at 6 1/2 furlongs, in an allowance at Zia Park in September. She last raced Jan. 20, and rallied for third in a Sunland allowance won by African Rose. Pyrite On My Mind has done her best work from off the pace and might get a nice setup behind such quick rivals as African Rose, Alydarla, and Patty’s Pulpit.

Ken Tohill has the mount on Pyrite On My Mind, a 6-year-old mare trained by Gary Cross.

Alydarla set a quick pace last out in the $50,000 Bold Ego at Sunland in her last start Dec. 22. She finished third as the favorite, and figures to again be prominent on the stretch-out from 5 1/2 furlongs. Earlier in her career, Alydarla was second in the $60,000 Madcap Escapade at Gulfstream Park and third in the Grade 3 Cicada at Aqueduct.

Casey Lambert has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen.