She Feels Pretty Targets Diana Stakes Saturday at Saratoga

The daughter of Karakontie will face five extremely tough rivals in what promises to be a formidable edition of the Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga, a race offering $500,000 in purses

She Feels Pretty remains unbeaten this season / KEENELAND

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- She Feels Pretty is in top form and riding a four-race winning streak as she aims to extend her run this Saturday in the prestigious Diana Stakes (G1, 9 furlongs, turf, $500,000) at Saratoga Race Course. The race for fillies and mares four years old and up takes place on Saratoga’s inner turf as part of the Fourth of July Festival.

Representing Lael Stables and trained by Cherie DeVaux, the daughter of Karakontie comes off a victory in the New York Stakes (G1) on June 6 over the same course and distance. Ridden by John Velázquez, she justified favoritism with a half-length score over Beach Bomb (Lancaster Bomber) in a time of 2:37.60 on yielding turf.

“She Feels Pretty has been training excellently since the New York,” said DeVaux. “She’s unbeaten this season, very impressive, and has really proven herself at this distance. We hope she can keep the streak going.”

The filly kicked off her season by taking the Modesty Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs by 2 1/4 lengths, setting a track record for 9 furlongs (1:45.51). At three, she closed her campaign with wins in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland and the American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita Park. She now boasts earnings of $1.7 million with a record of 10-7-1-2.

Among her chief rivals is Dynamic Pricing (Night of Thunder), fresh off a victory in the Just a Game Stakes (G1) at the same venue. Representing Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown, the Irish mare finished strongly from the back of the pack to defeat stablemate Excellent Truth (Cotai Glory). Both will face off again here, this time at a longer distance that may suit them even better.

Brown, who has won the Diana nine times, praised Dynamic Pricing’s progression: “She’s improved a lot this year and has shown she’s comfortable on soft turf. She has a very powerful finish and we’re pleased with how she’s arrived at the race.”

Excellent Truth, owned by Resolute Racing, was second in her two starts for Brown, in the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland and the Just a Game. She faced trouble in both and her trainer believes a clean trip could bring out her best: “She’s ready, she just needs things to go her way during the race,” he said.

Also in the field is Be Your Best (Muhaarar), a multiple G1 winner trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. and recent Gamely Stakes (G1) scorer at Santa Anita, where she led gate to wire. “The distance suits her well; she combines speed and stamina,” said her conditioner. “If the turf is firm, she can definitely be competitive.”

Rounding out the lineup are the British mare Choisya (Night of Thunder), trained by Simon Crisford, a stakes winner in Dubai and here who will be looking to rebound after a disappointing effort in the Just a Game, and Lady Claypoole(Violence), second in the Gamely and now under the care of Joel Rosario.