BLUE DIAMOND EYES returned to The Red Mile with a fury on Sunday (Sep 12), scoring a 1:47.2 victory by open lengths in the single $40,000 Kentucky Championship Series division for 3-year-old pacing fillies.
Driver Yannick Gingras sent BLUE DIAMOND EYES for the front heading to a :26.1 first quarter and cleared control as the field rolled into the backstretch. The daughter of CAPTAINTREACHEROUS carried her speed to a :53.2 half and around the final turn to click three-quarters in 1:20.4.
She then accelerated off the corner and opened three lengths on pocket-sitter High Minded, who gave futile pursuit as Thebeachiscalling made slight gains first over. BLUE DIAMOND EYES continued to expand her lead to the finish, crossing the beam 7.25 lengths ahead of Thebeachiscalling in second. So Irresistible overtook High Minded late to claim third. Owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon and trained by Ron Burke, BLUE DIAMOND EYES won her fourth race from 12 starts this season and her ninth from 25 overall, earning $864,914.
