July 12th, 2025
8 The Diana (GI)
1 1/8thm Turf $500.00 Four Year Olds & Up F&M
The Diana (GI) has drawn some of the best older ladies in all of HRP, and this is going to be a heck of a contest. There is a “millionaire’s club” and the others so the question seems to be, does one of them win again, as they seem to do, or can an outsider break up the party? I think class rules and put Lady Hilltopper on top. She won over this track last out and I have to give her the slight edge over last year’s winner Poetic Panther. She set the pace in The NY before missing a neck on the line. Part of me wanted to put Secret Of A Lady as the the top selection but somehow, she ends up third on my sheet. How do you leave Painville and Ponzi Scheme out? It proves how tough this group really is.
She has been a very consistent check earner, but this is a bit tougher than what she has been facing. I would certainly consider her for a minor placing with this group, and that is saying something.
Perhaps the win of her career last out as she won the grade one Gamely on the SA turf for her first graded victory. She appears to be in the best condition of her life and that could be bad news for these.
Weather could be a factor today and this one seem to dislike the wet going. She closed well to just miss in the grade three Shawnee beating some very nice horses. I like her.
A pair of wins entering this contest and she won the Early Times Mint Julep at CD last out. That was her first graded win and another that is in the best form ever.
Such a classy mare and is still tough at the age of seven. She has a pair of wins this year but has found it tough sledding against the very best. She could have one more big one left in her.
She won the grade one Wiley at KEE and was close in the CD Distaff Turf Mile and The NY. The “outside four” look formidable, as discussed above.
She won the CD Distaff Turf Mile and was third in the Wiley and fourth in the NY, won the Pegasus F&M Turf. You have to respect the barn in any race
The six-year-old mare won The NY over this turf course in her most recent, just missed by a nose in the Wiley and won the Hillsborough. She is as good as any mare on the planet. Maybe ever.
Now a seven-year-old, she won the BC F&M Turf two year in a row and has taken just about every single turf race for the ladies. She has a pair of races that aren’t up to her standards so let’s see if she can find the “pain” today.
Scotty’s Picks 8 / 6 / 7
