Stephanie's Kitten, third in last year's Diana Stakes, will give the 1 1/8-mile, $500,000 turf race another go Saturday versus nine fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Chad Brown, Stephanie's Kitten will be ridden by all-time great European jockey Frankie Dettori from post 9 in the 10-horse field. The 5-year- old mare is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
Stephanie's Kitten will be making just her third start of the year and third since finishing behind Laughing by just a half-length in last year's Diana. She was the 3-2 second pick in the five-horse field and rallied from last to get third. The mare has earned more than $1.6 million in 15 career starts with seven wins.
Brown will also send out for owner Martin Schwartz 4-year-old filly Alterite. Making her first start of the year, Alterite will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post 8.
Last year proved to be a stellar season for Alterite who banked $689,252 with two wins and two seconds in seven starts. The filly came from Europe to win the Garden City Stakes at Belmont Park and drop a neck decision as the 17-10 favorite to Kitten's Dumpling in Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Alterite was third behind Dank in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita.
Here is the field for the Diana in post position order: Solid Appeal, Julien Leparoux; Abaco, Jose Ortiz; Somali Lemonade, Luis Saez; Emollient, Joel Rosario; Strathnaver, John Velazquez; Discreet Marq, Irad Ortiz Jr.; Caroline Thomas, Joe Rocco Jr.; Alterite, Javier Castellano; Stephanie's Kitten, Frankie Dettori and Tannery, Jose Lezcano.
Post time for the Diana will be approximately 5:46 p.m. ET.
[SportsNetwork.com]
