Horse Racing News Update: Didia Seeks Back-to-Back Victories in Prestigious Diana Stakes
Saratoga, NY – July 22, 2024 – The stage is set for an exciting showdown in the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana Stakes at Saratoga this Saturday. Didia, the 6-year-old Argentine-bred mare, will look to secure back-to-back victories at the top level as she takes on a talented field of 10 older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf.
Owned by Merriebelle Stables and Resolute Racing and trained by Ignacio Correas, Didia earned her elusive first Grade 1 win in the United States in the recent New York Stakes at Saratoga on June 7th. Expertly piloted by 2017 Eclipse Award-winning jockey José Ortiz, Didia rallied from mid-pack to defeat a field that included multiple Grade 1 winners.
“The Diana is one of the most prestigious races in America,” said Correas. “We love to be able to run. She’s run a lot of good races, so we always try to pick one at the right time.”
Didia will face a formidable challenge from a quintet of runners saddled by four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown. Brown has won a record 8 of the last 9 editions of the Diana, including victories with the likes of Sistercharlie, Rushing Fall, and last year’s winner, Whitebeam.
Headlining Brown’s team is Chili Flag, a French-bred mare coming off a closing victory in the Just a Game Stakes (G1) on June 7th. Also in the mix are Whitebeam, Coppice, Fluffy Socks, and Gina Romantica, all looking to dethrone the defending champion.
Other notable contenders include Canadian Horse of the Year Moira, trained by Kevin Attard, as well as the Graham Motion-trained Mission of Joy and the Butch Reid-conditioned Neecie Marie, who last time out finished second to Didia in the New York Stakes.
With a talented and evenly matched field assembled, the 2024 renewal of the prestigious Diana Stakes promises an exciting and hard-fought battle for supremacy on the Saratoga turf this Saturday. First post is set for 12:35 pm EDT, with the Diana going to post at approximately 5:43 pm EDT.
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