TVG Diana winner Somali Lemonade “Better with Age”

TVG Diana winner Somali Lemonade “Better with Age”: Somali Lemonade and jockey Luis Saez won the TVG Diana at Saratoga on Saturday, July 19, 2014 for trainer Michael Matz and owner Caroline Forgason. The five-year-old mare by Lemon Drop Kid won the G1 $500,000 1 1/8 mile inner-turf race in 1:48.51.

Finishing the 2014 TVG Diana by just a neck in front of Stephanie’s Kitten, 11-1 Somali Lemonade made her move in the final furlong passing up favorite Alterite and Discreet Marq.

Somali Lemonade’s trainer Michael Matz reported after the 2014 TVG Diana victory, “Not a bad horse to have. I said I didn’t think she needed to be on the lead but, listen, what the hell do I know at this point? She’s won on the lead, she’s won from behind. I think she’s just a good filly and she showed it today. It was a pretty tough group that she ran against today. I don’t know if it was the blinkers, I don’t know if it was maturity, but she’s doing really well right now. I was glad somebody was putting some pressure on Discreet Marq. I was sort of surprised Tannery was up that close but I guess things happen. That’s why they call it horse racing. She’s just a good filly, I believe. I don’t know what else to say about her. She’s better now at 5 than she was her whole life.”

Jockey Luis Saez was thrilled to get another Saratoga win under his belt saying, “Today, I broke in front, but another speed horse was coming outside of me. I let her pass, but when we came to the three-eighths I had so much horse that when I got in the clear, she responded and won the race. It’s amazing to win another Grade 1 in Saratoga.”

Somali Lemonade paid her loyal fans $24.60 for a win bet at the Saratoga track.

TVG Diana Stakes Results & Payouts
3 Somali Lemonade and Luis Saez $24.60 to Win, $11.00 to Place, $7.40 to Show
9 Stephanie’s Kitten and Lanfranco Dettori $6.60 to Place, $4.60 to Show
6 Discreet Marq and Irad Ortiz, Jr. $6.50 to Show
Also ran: 2 – Abaco , 1 – Solid Appeal , 5 – Strathnaver (GB) , 7 – Caroline Thomas , 8 – Alterite (FR) , 4 – Emollient , 10 – Tannery (IRE)

TVG Diana Stakes 2014 Replay: