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Diamondrella transferred to Stevens, headed for Matriarch
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Diamondrella's last win came in the First
Lady
(EquiSport Photos) |
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who never won the prestigious Matriarch S.
(G1) as a rider, will try to win the test as a trainer with DIAMONDRELLA (GB)
(Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) on November 28 at Hollywood Park. The Grade 1-winning
five-year-old was an unexpected addition last week to the Santa Anita barn of
Stevens, who began training in May.
"I got a surprise call early Thursday morning," Stevens said Sunday from
Santa Anita. "Michael (Iavarone, head of owner IEAH Stables) informed me that
she was coming. It was a big confidence booster."
Diamondrella was shipped to Kentucky for the Fasig-Tipton Sale after
finishing 11th in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on November 7,
but was bought back by IEAH for $1.1 million and flown back to California by way
of Indianapolis early Friday morning.
The bay mare, based in New York most of the year, enjoyed a banner campaign
under previous trainer Angel Penna Jr., winning three of five starts, including
two Grade 1 races --the Just a Game S. at Belmont and the First Lady S. at
Keeneland. Both victories were at one mile on turf, the same distance as the
Matriarch. Career-wise, the English-bred has won eight of 18 starts and earned
$784,576.
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"The Matriarch is the target," said Stevens, who plans to supplement the mare
for $6,000. "She showed up in great shape. Angel did a great job with her. I
just walked her this morning."
The Matriarch was one of the few major stakes in Southern California that
eluded Stevens as a jockey. He finished second twice behind champion Flawlessly,
with Fire the Groom in 1991 and Toussaud in 1993.
Diamondrella's toughest competition is expected from multiple Grade 1 winner
VENTURA (Chester House), who captured the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) over the boys
and finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in her last
two. The Bobby Frankel-trained five-year-old will be ridden by Garrett Gomez.
Other probable starters include last-out Las Palmas H. (G2) queen TUSCAN EVENING
(Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]), Grade 1 heroine RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) and Harold C. Ramser
Sr. H. (G3) victress APRIL PRIDE (GB) (Falbrav [Ire]).
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