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Diamond Diva gets the money in CashCall thriller Turning seeming victory into inexplicable defeat, Ventura (Chester House) surrendered a head advantage in the final strides of Saturday's $750,000 CashCall Mile Invitational S. (G2), thus allowing Three Chimneys Racing's DIAMOND DIVA (GB) (Dansili [GB]) to re-rally up the inside to nab her by a nose on Hollywood Park's line. Under David Flores, Diamond Diva completed one mile over the firm turf in 1:34 and returned $6.60, $3.80 and $2.40 as the 2-1 third choice. Ventura, the second choice who was also 2-1, gave back $3.40 and $2.20, while 3-2 favorite Lady of Venice (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) fell short in her attempt to defend her CashCall title when finishing 2 1/4 lengths behind in third, returning $2.10. The $1 exacta paid $9.40 and the $1 trifecta was worth $18.30 for the 5-2-1 combination. A moderate tempo was established by 22-1 outsider La Tee (Broken Vow), who set splits of :24 1/5, :47 3/5 and 1:10 3/5, but she began to give way turning for home when the pacepressing Passified (GB) (Compton Place) challenged her, and that one was soon overtaken by Diamond Diva, who had tracked in fourth through the opening six furlongs. Slow to commence her rally after rating in fifth most of the way, Ventura hit high gear when set down by Garrett Gomez and took a lead that seemed insurmountable. Ventura seemed to pull herself up in the final strides, however, and with her ears noticeably pinned back, allowed Diamond Diva to gain the narrow edge at the wire. Following Lady of Venice, who was never in contention for the win, were Passified, Super Freaky (Smart Strike), Wake Up Maggie (Ire) (Xaar) and La Tee. The CashCall was the third victory in four starts in the United States for Diamond Diva, who began her career in her native England where she posted a 12-3-4-2 mark and was stakes-placed three times. Her American debut occurred on March 30 at Santa Anita with a 1 3/4-length victory in the American Beauty H., and she followed up with a three-quarters of a length score in the Wilshire H. (G3) at Hollywood. More recently, Diamond Diva set the pace but was overtaken when 2 1/4-lengths second to Precious Kitten (Catienus) in the May 26 Gamely S. (G1). Her record now reads 16-6-5-2 with earnings of $721,285. "My plan from here would be the (August 3) John C. Mabee (H. [G1] at Del Mar), either that or give her a shot at maybe running in Chicago, Canada or Kentucky and then the Breeders' Cup," said winning trainer James Cassidy. Bred by Glebe Stud and Mrs. F. Woodd, Diamond Diva sold for $496,813 at the 2007 Tattersalls December sale. The dark bay lass is out of the winning Vivianna (Indian Ridge), who is herself a daughter of South African champion three-year-old filly Kundalini (El Gran Senor), and comes from the same family as multiple Irish champion Kooyonga (Persian Bold).
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