Stronach Stables' turf distaff star Perfect Sting will go to post under highweight of 123 pounds when she returns from a brief layoff in Monday's $500,000 Diana Handicap (gr. IIT). Eight other fillies and mares will challenge her in the 1 1/8-mile turf race won last year by Heritage of Gold.
Perfect Sting is undefeated on the year from three starts and begins her Breeders' Cup campaign with the Diana. "This break I gave her over the summer was by design," said trainer Joe Orseno. "I wanted to freshen her up before her Breeders' Cup campaign. We didn't miss a beat with her all summer long."
The field for the Diana Handicap, the last race of the Saratoga meet and the first race of "America's Pick Three," which concludes with Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III) from Arlington International and the Del Mar Handicap (gr. II), will consist of:
1--Nordican Inch, Robbie Davis, 113
2--Hello Soso, Edgar Prado, 113
3--License Fee, Pat Day, 116
4--Fictitious, Jose Santos, 114
5--Idle Rich, Aaron Gryder, 114
6--Pico Teneriffe, Jorge Chavez, 115
7--Perfect Sting, Jerry Bailey, 123
8--Colstar, Alberto Delgado, 116
9--Melody Queen, Mike Smith, 113
