Senji Nishimura’s ROMANCE IS DIANE (In Excess [Ire]) swept to the lead
turning for home and powered clear to a convincing one-length win in the
$459,250 Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) over the Cushion Track on Sunday. The dark
bay two-year-old miss rated in third off the swift early splits set by Tizthen (Tiznow),
who went :22 3/5 and :44 2/5 for the opening half-mile, and inched closer at the
six-furlong mark, which was reached by Super Freaky (Smart Strike) in 1:10 1/5.
At the head of the stretch, David Flores asked his mount for run and she
responded, pulling clear in the matter of a few jumps and cruising home a facile
victress.
The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:42 3/5, and the winner gave back
healthy mutuels of $31, $12.40 and $7.60 at 14-1 for Mike Mitchell. Quick Little
Miss (Freud) put in her customary strong late rush but never threatened the top
one. The runner-up paid $6.80 and $3.80 at 7-1 and completed the $98.40 exacta
($1). Down (Mr. Greeley) dwelt when the gates opened and spotted the field
nearly 18 lengths early, but the maiden closed with a fury on the outtermost part of
the track to gain third. The 3-1 second choice was
worth $3.80 and sat on the bottom of the $531.10 trifecta ($1). Hucking Hot (GB)
(Desert Prince [Ire]) was next and finished off the $9,165.20 superfecta ($1)
(7-6-8-5) at
23-1.
Mystic Soul (Bahri) was another 1 1/4 lengths back and followed by She’s
Included (Include), High Cholesterol (Until Sundown), 5-2 choice Mistical Plan
(Game Plan), Super Freaky, Runway Rosie (Include), Betrluckythangood (More Than
Ready) and a distant Tizthen. Baroness Thatcher (Johannesburg) was declared from
the race by her conditioner earlier in the day.
Romance is Diane captured her third race in succession following an
off-the-board-finish in her debut, and boosted her bankroll to $376,150 with the
winners’ share. The dark bay was victorious in the California Cup Juvenile
Fillies S. most recently.
Bred in the Golden State by Swan Equine Services Co., the winner was produced
from the winning Romantic Fibs (Prized) and is a full-sister to 2001 Del Mar
Derby (G2) hero Romanceishope. Romantic Fibs is also responsible for the
yearling colt Romance is Zenon (Fusaichi Zenon [Jpn]).