Elusive Diva Is One to Beat

Elusive Diva will try to remain unbeaten on the Santa Anita turf course today when she races 11 other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap.

A Grade III at about 6 1/2 furlongs, the Maddy is the opening day feature for Oak Tree’s 37th season.

A winner by half a length in the Wishing Well Handicap last January, Elusive Diva was more impressive 2 1/2 months later, winning the Las Cienegas, a Grade III, by four lengths.

Patrick Valenzuela, who has been aboard for two of the filly’s five victories, has the call in the Maddy.

Other contenders include Tara’s Touch, fresh off a win in a Group III at Woodbine; Shining Energy, and Valentine Dancer, who has two wins and two seconds in four tries around two turns on the Santa Anita turf.

Race of the day: Miesque’s Approval, who has won seven of 29, heads a field of seven in the eighth at Belmont Park, a race that is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $55,068. Jerry Bailey, who has won with half of his 40 mounts at the Belmont meet, will ride the 6-year-old Miesque’s Son horse in the $100,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

One for the road: Golf Trip should enjoy the added distance in today’s first at Woodbine, one mile on turf, after finishing fourth -- beaten by 2 1/4 lengths -- in his debut Aug. 7.

Apprentice Corey Fraser, second in the Woodbine jockey standings, has the call on the 2-year-old Woodman colt in the $66,000 maiden race.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Toppisme in the sixth, Elusive Diva, Valentine Dancer, Tara’s Touch and Shining Energy in the seventh, Bluesthestandard and Me My Mine in the eighth and Jill’s Sky, Dancing General and Classical Lady in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 0/0. Money: Previous day/meet total: $0/$0. Total money bet: $0.