Quidura makes her Saratoga debut in Diana
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Photo:
Keeneland Photo
Quidura will make her Saratoga debut in a small-but-talented field in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Diana for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles on the Mellon turf course.
Trainer Graham Motion said the 4-year-old British-bred is coming into the race well after posting a personal-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure in a runner-up effort last out in the Grade 2 New York on June 9 at Belmont Park.
The Diana, the first of 18 Grade 1 races on Saratoga's 40-day calendar, will pit Quidura in a rematch against Dickinson and 4-5 morning-line favorite Lady Eli, the 1-2 runners in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on April 15 at Keeneland.
Quidura finished third in that start, her first Grade 1 race, and will run in the Diana with an eight-pound advantage against Lady Eli, who will carry the highweight of 123 pounds.
"It's a solid group and she gets a nice break in the weight," Motion said. "She got within a length of these fillies at Keeneland. She'll have to step up but I feel that she'll be competitive in this race."
After starting her career with two wins in Germany, including a win in her debut, Quidura is 2-1-1 in four starts in North America. She will break from post 4 with jockey Junior Alvarado.
"Physically she's really grown up," Motion said. "She was a lightly raced filly when she came over. She's a pleasure to be around. She's very straight-forward and she's one of the few horses who has worked with Miss Temple City. She should be ready for this race."
Motion added that Miss Temple City will be pointed to the Grade 3 Matchmaker on July 30 at Monmouth Park. It will be her first start since finishing 13th in the Group 1 Queen Anne on June 20 at Royal Ascot in her seasonal debut.
Source: NYRA Communications
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