From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (March 26, 2017)–Patiently handled by Tiago Pereira, streaking Skye Diamonds, claimed for $40,000 this past August, ran down Roo’s Valentine to take Sunday’s $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares by 1 ¼ lengths at Santa Anita. Trained by Bill Spawr, the 4-year-old California-bred daughter of First Dude got a flat mile in 1:37.34.
A close second to Roo’s Valentine going to the far turn, Pereira sat motionless as “Roo,” who was ridden by Martin Pedroza, opened up by nearly three lengths leaving the three furlong pole, only to be collared a furlong from home.
“I had a lot of horse left that last part,” said Pereira, who has ridden Skye Diamonds in her last six starts. “I pushed and I smooched, but she had plenty left. I waited a little bit today. The one time I moved early with her, she got tired. Today I waited, she made a move and the last part was easy.”
With the Dream of Summer serving as her first stakes victory, Skye Diamonds, who was claimed at Del Mar five starts back, registered her first stakes win and has now won five out of her last six starts. She was bred by Dizney Double Diamond.
The heavy 4-5 favorite in a field of eight California-bred or sired older fillies and mares, she paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.20.
“Hard work pays off,” said Spawr, 77, who is typically at his Santa Anita barn at 3:30 a.m. on a daily basis. “She keeps improving. I thought Roo’s Valentine was on an easy lead. I didn’t know if we were going to get her. Mid-stretch is when we got her.
“She had a lot left…Our stable has a lot of spirit, we win a lot of races. It’s pretty exciting to go to work in the mornings.”
Owned by Tom Acker, Allen Racing, LLC and Bloom Racing Stables, LLC, Skye Diamonds picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $309,150. She is now 13-7-3-0 overall.
Roo’s Valentine, who finished 7 ¾ lengths in front of Dressed to a T, was off at 5-1 and paid $4.40 and $3.40.
Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Dressed to a T, who was last early, was off at 7-1 and paid $3.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 24.44, 49.08, 1:13.21 and 1:25.30.
Live racing resumes at Santa Anita on Thursday, with first post time for an eight-race card at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.