NEWS
Diva Delite takes Florida Oaks for fifth in a row
Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 5:49 PM
DIVA DELITE
Tom Cooley Photography
To view the Florida Oaks, click here.
by Tim Nichols
Swinging four wide approaching the stretch, Diva Delite took the lead and edged clear to win the $170,000 Florida Oaks (G3) on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.
Trained by David Vivian for owners Barbara Vivian and Dominic Vittese, Diva Delite has won five straight races dating to December and six of her last seven starts.
Ridden by Rosemary Homeister Jr., Diva Delite was reserved near the back of the field as Mallory Square led through a half-mile in :50.03.
Diva Delite started to close the gap on the home turn before taking a narrow lead in early stretch from along the outside. From that position, the three-year-old Repent filly had plenty of energy in reserve to outkick the field en route to a two-length win.
“This is such a wonderful filly to ride,” Homeister said. “I knew she was going to be good again today; she was just so perky in the post parade and then she just waited in gate without turning a hair.”
Diva Delite entered off consecutive victories in the Gasparilla and Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay. She improved to eight wins from 15 career starts and earnings of $285,067.
Champion two-year-old filly and Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner She Be Wild scratched from the race.
In the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (G3), 1.90-to-1 favorite Phola powered past a depleted field on yielding turf to win her first stakes race. (video)
Closing from last entering the stretch, the four-year-old Johannesburg filly unleashed a devastating turn of foot at the eighth pole. Jockey Ramon Dominguez took a look behind him and watched the field get smaller in the stretch as Phola easily captured the 1 1/8-mile race by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:52.51.
“The filly settled nicely for me and I was pretty sure the speed would come back to us,” Dominguez said. “But we were father back than I had expected. Then when I asked for run, she just flew up at the lead and really impressed me with her run through the stretch.”
Bred in Kentucky by Andover Way and N & P Horse Racing Venture, Phola improved to four wins from ten career starts and earnings of $194,545. She is one of three winners from four starters out of the Petionville mare Humbling (Ire).
For Equibase charts, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times
