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Forever Together mows them down in Diana Though bettors have taken a cautious view of Augustin Stables' FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me) since she switched to the turf several months ago, neither they nor her opposition is likely to continue to do so in the wake of the four-year-old's come-from-behind score in Saturday's $500,000 Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga. The gray miss, who was still far back in the field of 10 at the top of the stretch, made an explosive rally down the middle of the course under Julien Leparoux to win going away by three-quarters of a length, completing 1 1/8 miles on a good turf in a swift 1:46 2/5. With the victory Forever Together guaranteed herself a spot in the starting gate of the October 24 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Santa Anita. Dismissed at 8-1 when capturing her turf debut in the Reluctant Guest S. at Arlington Park on May 17, Forever Together was overlooked even more when starting at 44-1 in the Just a Game S. (G1) last out. Despite finishing a late-charging third, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, Forever Together was let go at 9-1 in the Diana, rewarding her faithful backers to the tune of $20, $8.20 and $5.80 while keying the $126.50 exacta, $866 trifecta and $4,483 superfecta (8-2-7-5). Dynaforce (Dynaformer), the New York S. (G2) runner-up making only her second U.S. start, seized control through the stretch but could not withstand the late charge of the winner. She brought back $5.10 and $3.70 as the 3-1 second choice while finishing 3 1/2 lengths ahead of 6-1 Rutherienne (Pulpit), who nosed out Vacare (Lear Fan) for third to return $5.20. Following in the order of finish was Lady Digby (Grand Slam), Bayou's Lassie (Outflanker), Wait a While (Maria's Mon), Criminologist (Maria's Mon), Bit of Whimsy (Distorted Humor) and Chestoria (Chester House). Wait a While, the champion three-year-old filly of 2006, was making her first start since registering a victory in the San Gorgonio H. (G2) on January 14, but raced wide down the backstretch and offered little as the mild 3-1 choice. "It was a very tough field. I think, for me, she won very easily today," Leparoux said. "The (turf) is fair for everybody, I think, so that won't be an excuse, for anybody. I think she's a very nice filly." The story of the Diana changed little for much of the race as Bayou's Lassie built up a considerable lead down the backside while setting fractions of :23 2/5, :46 4/5 and 1:10 4/5. Dynaforce tracked in second throughout, and then caught her pacesetting rival at the top of the lane while knocking out a mile in 1:34 3/5. Only Forever Together made any sort of challenge from behind as she swooped to victory for trainer Jonathan Sheppard, who also trained Ratings to victory in the 1993 Diana for Augustin master George Strawbridge. Sheppard suggested afterward that Forever Together might prep for the Breeders' Cup in the September 27 Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) at Belmont Park. Forever Together captured her first three starts on dirt, culminating in a two-length score in the 2007 Forward Gal S. (G1) at Gulfstream Park. After a neck loss over Polytrack in the Beaumont S. (G2), Forever Together could finish no better than third in four subsequent starts on dirt. Forever Together's line now reads 11-5-1-2 with earnings of $575,300. Bred by White Fox Farm in Kentucky, Forever Together brought $240,000 as an OBS March two-year-old. She is out of the unraced Relaunch mare Constant Companion, making her a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed Princess Patricia (Aptitude) and the unraced three-year-old colt The Lord Heals (Harlan's Holiday). This is the same family as multiple champion filly Open Mind (Deputy Minister), Canadian Horse of the Year Peaks and Valleys (Mt. Livermore), and Grade 2 winner and noted sire Broken Vow (Unbridled).
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