Juvenile Stakes-Winner for Munnings
Promising filly Artistic Diva (2f Munnings x Diva N Disguise, by Mizzen Mast) made it two wins in as many starts when scoring a dominant win in the $71,500 Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita on the weekend.
A debut winner at Del Mar on the turf in August, the John Sadler trained filly was stepping up in class and distance for this six furlong contest on the dirt and emerged triumphant.
She found the front and then forged clear to win by two and a quarter lengths with Victor Espinoza in the saddle.
“Going into this race, I knew I would probably be on the lead but I wanted to go a bit slower,” said Espinoza.
“She has natural speed, she’s pretty fast. We train her in the mornings to relax but it doesn’t really work out. Over time, I think she’ll settle and the good thing about her is that we know she can run on turf and the dirt.”
A $425,000 two year-old purchase from the OBS April Sale, Artistic Diva runs for Hronis Racing and is the first winner for Diva N Disguise, a half-sister to stakes-winner Diva’s Diamond.