‘Lady Seeks Diplomatic Immunity on the Grass
Diplomat Lady, a multiple graded stakes winner on the dirt, will try the grass for the first time in the $100,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap today at Santa Anita.
An ungraded race at one mile, the Ramser attracted eight other 3-year-old fillies, including Sol Mi Fa and the improving Brendolyn.
Owned by Charles Cono and trained by Chris Paasch, Diplomat Lady, a daughter of Forestry who was purchased for $400,000 as a 2-year-old, has won four of 11. Her two biggest victories came in the Hollywood Starlet, a Grade I, last Dec. 18, and in the Beaumont, a Grade II, on April 13 at Keeneland.
Her win at 39-1 odds in the Starlet was the only time Diplomat Lady has been successful around two turns. Her best finish in three other tries at a mile or beyond was a fourth in the Santa Anita Oaks on March 12. Idle since finishing 11th in the Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 5, Diplomat Lady will be ridden by Patrick Valenzuela for the first time.
Sol Mi Fa, a three-time winner on turf, drops out of the Grade I Del Mar Oaks for the Ramser. Brendolyn, a Knockadoon filly, has won three of her last four for a partnership and trainer Craig Dollase. In her first start on the grass, Brendolyn won an optional claimer by 2 3/4 lengths Sept. 3 at Del Mar.
Race of the day: Pommes Frites, who has not been worse than second in three races over the Belmont Park turf, will break from the rail against seven opponents in the $100,000 Athenia Handicap. Jose Santos will ride the 4-year-old Dynaformer filly. In her last start at Belmont, Pommes Frites was second to Karen’s Caper in the Noble Damsel Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Sept. 23.
One for the road: Pure Incentive goes turf to dirt in the ninth race at Keeneland. Julien Leparoux will ride the 3-year-old daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus in the $52,000 allowance at 1 1/8 miles. Pure Incentive already owns a main track win, having broken her maiden going 6 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park last Dec. 4.
Exotically speaking: A pick three using Winnin N Grinnin in the second, Smooth Sis, Colominas and Parisian Witch in the third and Toy’s Toy, Happyhour Athebrig and Golden Route in the fourth.
Winners: (previous day/meet total): 1/52. Money: (previous day/meet total): $10.60/$289.20. Total money bet: $258.
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