Dacita Gets Up in the Grade 1 Diana

The $500,000 Diana looked like a wide-open race that was filled with graded stakes winners, and that is exactly how the race played out. Coming down the stretch, several horses made strong moves for the win, but ultimately, Dacita got the victory with her late charge down the middle of the Saratoga turf course.

Out of the gate Isabella Sings was hustled from the number 10 post position to the early lead by rider Paco Lopez. Onus, who was also outside in the eight post vied for the lead, but was content to tuck in top second position along the rail two lengths behind the leader. Behind those two were Mrs McDougal and Sandiva. The 2.60-1 betting favorite Miss Temple City, who was making her first start since a fourth place finish at Royal Ascot in England last month, was in fifth position early on. The eventual winner sat in last 10 lengths behind.

Isabella Sings and Onus held their places for the first three quarters that went in 22.88, 47.25, and 1:11.08. The next three runners were running in tight pack with Miss Temple City running in the tightest quarters between horses.

Isabella sings was the first to yield and faded out of contention. At the top of the stretch Onus was now on the lead with Mrs McDougal in second, but others were beginning to make their closing moves. Sandiva was first to get to the lead as finally Onus had nothing left in the tank. At the same time Dacita, Recepta, and Rainha Da Bateria were making the last challenges, which would turn out to be the best.

Those three would converge in the final 100 yards in which there was bumping that would result in jockey objections being lodged and a stewards inquiry to review the finish where the top three were separated by a nose and then a head.

Dacita was on the outside, Rainha Da Bateria was between horses, and Recepta was on the inside. Rainha Da Bateria got the worst of the stretch drive when she was squeezed as the other two came in on her. After a review, the stewards took no action and left the result. Dacita got the win, her second in a row for trainer Chad Brown, Recepta was second in the photo finish, with Rainha Da Bateria in third. Miss Temple City eventually ended up on the rail and managed to finish fourth.

Going into the race Brown knew Dacita loves Saratoga, since she beat Tepin here last year. After the race he had a lot to say about the exciting finish, "It was a lot to watch. In the end it was like a replay of the Ballston Spa last year when Dacita got up the last jump to beat Tepin. Similar finish here. Dacita loves Saratoga and she knows where the wire is. The first quarter there they were rolling along. I know they tried to slow it down some but it really set the tone for the race that someone from behind, or in mid-pack at worse, was probably going to have the best run. Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] was patient and worked out another great trip for Dacita, and she timed it just right. Obviously I'll be watching this race several times over again. It was Dacita's day today."

In the end, Dacita paid $10.20, $5.70, and $4.20 as the third betting choice. This was her first American grade on victory and the second win in the Diana for Brown. She upped her earnings to $867,361 and her career record to 15: 9-2-1 with 10 of those starts coming in Chile.