Trainer Robertino Diodoro, Oaklawn’s leading trainer in 2020, is off to a fast start at the 2022-23 meet, picking up his second stakes win since the Dec. 9 opening and his second straight $200,000 Tinsel Stakes victory on Saturday with Bal Harbour. Last Saturday, he won the $150,000 Mistletoe Stakes with Lovely Ride. He won the 2021 Tinsel Stakes with Lone Rock.
In the Tinsel, Bal Harbour broke on top and had his own way through early fractions of 23 2/5 seconds and 47 2/5 for the first half mile. The 7-year-old gelding, who held a 2 1/2-length advantage entering the stretch had just enough left in the tank to hold off 2022 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner Last Samurai by a neck under jockey Cristian Torres. Scarlet Fusion was third, with 6-5 favorite Run Classic a neck behind in fourth. The winning time was 1:49 1/5 over a fast track.
Owned by John Holleman, Bal Harbour was making only the second start for his connections after being claimed for $50,000 Sept. 5 at Saratoga. In his first start for Diodoro and Holleman, he finished third in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Nov. 4. Overall, he has a record of 34: 7-5-10 and has won $870,880. He returned $13.60, $4.60 and $2.80 at odds of 5-1.
Two races earlier, Marylou Whitney Stables’ Pretty Birdie won the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes in front-running fashion to give trainer Norm Casse his second victory of the day. It was the second Oaklawn stakes victory for Casse and the 3-year-old filly, who won the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes in March during the 2021-22 season.
Breaking from post 7 under jockey David Cabrera, Pretty Birdie went right to the lead and set fractions of :22 1/5 seconds and :45 4/5 for the first half mile. The winner was never seriously threatened as she easily won by two lengths over Sarah Harper in 1:03 2/5 for 5 1/2 furlongs over a fast track. Carribean Caper, the slight 5-2 favorite, got up late for third.
Pretty Birdie, a Bird Song filly, won for the fourth time in nine career starts and has now earned $462,388. She returned $10.60, $5.40 and $4.
