152 Bettors Cash in on $2.4 Million Pick Six

Watson and Weitman Performances' Dirty Diana, another 2-year-old speedster from the talent-rich barn of perennial Del Mar champion trainer Bob Baffert, turned Friday night's featured $125,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes into a parade with an impressive triumph.

With a two-day carryover in the Pick Six, the pool for the wager totaled $2.4 million. There were 152 perfect tickets worth $10,539 each.

Wearing blinkers for the first time in her three-race career, Dirty Diana, with Mike Smith in the saddle, romped to an 8 ½-length victory in a CTBA stakes record time of 1:03.31 for the 5 ½ furlongs on the main track. The previous record for the race was 1:03.70 set by Euro Empire in the 2000 renewal.

Champ's Rocket took second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Blowing Bartok, with 3/2 favorite Smoke Break fourth in the field of nine juvenile fillies. Garden Whimsey was withdrawn from the original field.

Dirty Diana, a daughter of Flying Continental and Chelsea Fields, paid $6.20 while earning $75,000 with her second win in three starts.

Her owners purchased the filly after her first race, a seven-length maiden triumph at Hollywood Park. Bred by the Stein Stable, she was fifth in the Cinderella Stakes in her only other start and now has career earnings of more than $100,000.

"I wanted to get a race into her at Hollywood, but she drew the rail and didn't run very well," Bafferts said of the Cinderella effort. "It just wasn't her. They throw bad ones in there sometimes. You could just throw that one out.  I was pointing for this race. I have some nice fillies, but I don't like to brag on them until they do something like this. She's nominated to the (Del Mar) Debutante. We bought her to win stakes with. Now, we can brag on her."

Added Smith: "Bob told me not to take any holds on her. 'Just let her get away running.' I let her go. And she's lightnin' fast. It sure is nice to ride one like this."

(Chart, Equibase)