 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
 |
FIRST PRIZE DIAMONDS DAZZLES IN GRADE 3 DECKETTA STAKES
First Prize Diamonds, under jockey James Flores, cruises to victory in the Grade 3 $51,602 Decketta Stakes at Remington Park Saturday night.
© Dustin Orona PhotographyOKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 1, 2017—First Prize Diamonds broke well in the Grade 3, $51,602 Decketta Stakes(G3) for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, then gained the lead by the midway point of the 350-yard race to win by a half-length.
First Prize Diamonds came on with a rally, defeating a game Sudden Separation with Miss Feet First Down another head behind in third. First Prize Diamonds handled the distance in :17.351 seconds over a track rated fast despite a light rain that fell throughout the night.
Ridden by James Flores and trained by Gerry McLean, First Down Diamonds is owned by Gary Hartstack of Washington, Texas, and was bred in Oklahoma by Weetona Stanley of Madill, Okla. First Prize Diamonds has now won seven of 12 lifetime races and her earnings of $30,810 in the Decketta Stakes drives her lifetime money to $98,854.
First Prize Diamonds, a 4-year-old filly by Carters Cartel, out of the Fly Jess Fly mare, First Prize Diamond, paid $4.80 to win, $3.20 to place and $3.20 to show. Sudden Separation returned $5.60 to place and $4.40 to show. Miss Feet Down First paid $5.40 to show.
The favorite in the wagering at 7-5 odds, First Prize Diamonds was unraced since her November 12, 2016 win in the Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Mystery Derby at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla. She has now won three consecutive races dating back to October last year.
Ridden by jockey Berkley Packer, multiple graded winner Sudden Separation stumbled at the start but battle to second for trainer Larry Sharp and owner Duane Murphy. The homebred daughter of Inseperable picked up $10,270 to boost her bankroll to over $252,000. She is out of the Okey Dokey Dale mare Okie Dokey Annie.
Grade 1 winner Miss Feet Down First gained late under jockey Francisco Calderon. Trainer Victory Gonzalez saddled the Dominyun 4-year-old for owner Esequiel Porras. Isbell Charoais bred the Dominyun filly in Texas from the First Down Dash mare Fee Down First. The $5,451 third-place check brings her earnings total to over $302,000.
Send Me Good Candy, Rvaliant Chick, Miss Aguilar, Memphis D Nasty, Cautionsly, Southern Lulu and Cb Come Fly With Me completed the field. The Decketta Stakes is named after the 1968 All American Futurity winner who was born in Blanchard, Okla. and campaigned by her breeder, owner and trainer W.W. Wilson. Decketta was a successful broodmare for over 20 years after her racing career was completed.