Changes Spur Elusive Diva to a Win

An equipment change, a shorter distance and a switch to jockey Patrick Valenzuela were enough to help Elusive Diva become a graded stakes winner in her fourth career start.

A distant fourth behind California-bred House Of Fortune in the Fantasy Stakes last month at Oaklawn Park, the 3-year-old Elusive Quality filly, who was wearing blinkers for the first time, got through on the inside to beat maiden and 10-1 shot M.A. Fox by a neck in the $109,600 Railbird Stakes on Sunday at Hollywood Park.

This was the third victory in five races for Elusive Diva, who is owned by a partnership that includes Allen Branch and John and Doris Konecny, and gave trainer Mark Glatt his first graded stakes victory at Hollywood Park.

The win also capped a dream week for Valenzuela, who returned eight days ago after his suspension had been stayed by California Horse Racing Board Chairman John Harris.

The oft-troubled rider has had 11 victories in six racing days, and the Railbird win was the fourth of his career and second in three years.

“It’s been an amazing week for me and I’m just so grateful,” Valenzuela said. “I worked this filly once at Santa Anita and I loved her. Mark wasn’t sure if he was going to run her in here, but then he gave us the green light.”

M.A. Fox, who had been beaten in close finishes in each of her first two starts before another tough loss Sunday, finished a neck in front of 4-1 shot Speedy Falcon and was a nose back to 13-10 favorite Aspen Gal.

After winning four of five in Minnesota, Oklahoma and Iowa, Aspen Gal has been beaten as the public choice twice in as many starts in California for trainer Bobby Frankel.

“She’s running a little green,” said jockey Alex Solis of Aspen Gal. “I think she needs some blinkers. As soon as we put them on, I think it’s really going to help her. She’s still learning.”

*

Gander, the 9-5 favorite, earned his first win at Aqueduct on Sunday, winning the $80,975 Kings Point Handicap on the final day of the meet.

Trained by John Terranova for the Gatsas Stables, the 8-year-old had been zero for seven at the track before beating 17-1 shot Levendis by a length in 1:52.31 for the 1 1/8 miles. A New York-bred son of Cormorant, Gander was ridden by John Velazquez, who won for the 15th time in 58 lifetime races and pushed his earnings to more than $1.8 million.

*

Belmont Park will begin its spring-summer meet Wednesday and a field of seven is scheduled to go in the opening day feature, the $100,000 Westchester Handicap at one mile.

Lion Tamer, who has won all three starts in 2004, heads a lineup that includes Toccet, Saarland, Formal Attire, Jets Fan, Black Silk and Gygistar.