Notes - Dec 17

- Five winners for David Flores at Hollywood on Sunday, and he saved his best for last. He took the short way home on Romance Is Diane in the Hollywood Startlet, thus earning a Grade 1 win. Quick Little Miss closed strongly from far back for second despite being extremely wide on the final turn. She tried to take advantage of a quick pace - the half time of 45.2 set by Tizthen was over two seconds faster than the pace set by her stablemate Stormello on Saturday.

Bobby Frankel's Down, 8-1 morning line in her second start, stepping up from a maiden special sprint (which she didn't win) to a Grade 1 route, was made the 7-2 second choice. As in her debut, she had a slow start ("she just stood there," explained Vic Stauffer); but she flew past horses while coming home down the center of the track in the stretch. She looked like she would easily pass Quick Little Miss for the place spot, but give that filly full marks for gamely holding on for second money. Frankel obviously has a very talented soon-to-be three year old in Down, and watch out if he's able to correct her slow starts.

Romance Is Diane is by the California sire In Excess, and she's his first graded winner of the year. She's out of a mare by the Mile Turf (thanks Jen R) winner Prized, and is from the family of the recently retired Badge of Silver.

- Gary Contessa continued his ridiculous hot streak at the Big A with two more winners; he now has 22 winners from 75 runners. These were two impressive winners too. Marquis Diamond closed for second running for a 75K tag in her debut; up to maiden special juvenile fillies, she romped by almost 11 in 1:10.2! And in the following race, Lost Going Home, a state-bred three-year old gelded son of City Zip, remained undefeated in three starts with a five lengths win.