Somali Lemonade springs sweet Diana upset
A loaded field of 10 fantastic fillies and mares assembled for the 2014 edition of the Grade 1 Diana Stakes. Last year's third place finisher in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Alterite was afforded favoritism despite being off the bench since that start, but it was Somali Lemonade who uncharacteristically came from just off the pace to spring an 11-1 upset in Saratoga's first grade 1 event of the season.
Despite being sharp out of the gate, jockey Luis Saez asked Somali Lemonade to settle just off the pace and allow Discreet Marq, Alterite, and Tannery to go on by them. Typically a front-runner, the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid was less than pleased to be behind rivals early, and along with pace setter Alterite and Tannery, proved to be hard to handle during the early stages of the race.
Sharing the lead with Discreet Marq, Alterite set splits of 24:37 and 49:84 for the opening calls. Along with Tannery and Somali Lemonade, the first four continued on as a group, jockeying the top four positions amongst themselves. Wheeling for home, Discreet Marq finally separated herself from Alterite and looked home free, but behind her, Somali Lemonade had clear sailing and was gobbling up ground slowly but surely.
Inside the final furlong, Somali Lemonade hit her best stride and hit the wire a neck in front of a furiously closing Stephanie's Kitten. Discreet Marq, who officially led at every prior point of call, finished a short neck behind Stephanie's Kitten in third. Abaco made an impressive rally from last to get up for fourth. The order of finish was completed by Solid Appeal, Strathnaver, Caroline Thomas, Alterite, Emollient, who never settled, and Tannery.
I said I didn't think she needed to be on the lead," said winning trainer Michael Matz. "She's won on the lead, she's won from behind. I think she's just a good filly. It was a pretty tough group that she ran against today."
Bred in Kentucky by Cina Forgason, Somali Lemonade finished the 1 1/8 mile event in 1.48:51. Off odds of 11-1, the 5-year old mare returned $24.60/$11.00/$7.40. Stephanie's Kitten paid $6.60/$4.60 at odds of 5-1, and Discreet Marq returned $6.50 off odds of 8-1. The $2 exacta was worth $196, the $2 trifecta paid $1,170, and the $2 superfecta returned $11,193.
By Lemon Drop Kid and out of the Nureyev mare Chic Corine, Somali Lemonade raced with blinkers on for trainer Michael Matz. Before the equipment change to begin the year, the mare raced off the pace. Adding blinkers caused today's winner to utilize a front-running style in her first four starts of the season, but Saez asked his charge to revert a bit back to her previous style for today's event.
In reference to the equipment change, Matz stated, "I don't know if it was the blinkers, I don't know if it was maturity, but she's doing really well right now. I was glad somebody was putting some pressure on Discreet Marq. I was a little surprised Tannery was up that close, but I guess things happen. That's why they call it horse racing."
Owned by Carline Forgason, Somali Lemonade was making her 22nd career start. Her victory improved her overall record to 22: 6-3-3. With the $300,000 winner's share of the purse, the mare pushed her total earnings to $948,421. No immediate plans have been made for the mare's next start.
Despite being a multiple graded stakes winner, Somali Lemonade reached that all important Grade 1 winner milestone 25 years to the day after a near fatal event forever changed trainer Michael Matz's life. Back in 1989, Matz and fiancee D.D. Alexander, who is now Matz's wife, missed their connection from Denver to Philadelphia while traveling back home from Hawaii after judging a horse show in that state. They had a choice of two different flights 20 minutes apart and fatefully chose United Airlines Flight 232. After experiencing a catastrophic engine failure, the plane crashed at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, and the crash claimed 111 lives. Matz not only survived the crash with his fiancee, he also led four young children to safety.