Turf is in California Diamond's future

California Diamond, a four-time stakes winner on dirt, looks like he is about to switch surfaces.

Trainer Peter Miller said Tuesday that California Diamond may run in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course Sept. 29 at Santa Anita. The $100,000 Eddie D Stakes is the feature race on the opening day of the track’s autumn meeting.

Owned by Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch, California Diamond has won 5 of 11 starts and earned $469,280, but has never raced on turf. His stakes wins came in sprints last year. California Diamond is winless in two starts this year and has not raced since finishing eighth in the Echo Eddie Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds at Santa Anita in April.

The Eddie D could be a prep for the $100,000 California Flag Handicap for statebreds on the hillside turf course Oct. 21.

“He’s ready to run and there isn’t another spot for him,” Miller said. “With the Cal-bred stakes three weeks later, we thought this would be a good time to try the hill.”