‘Diva Has Been Quiet

Trainer Mark Glatt and the partnership that owns Elusive Diva hope history repeats itself in today’s $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita.

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela is back aboard the 4-year-old Elusive Quality filly this afternoon after a six-race absence. There was a happy ending last time Valenzuela and Elusive Diva collaborated, winning the Railbird Stakes, a Grade III, by a neck May 2 at Hollywood Park.

Since then, Elusive Diva has gone one for five, and the one victory came on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course, which is the scene of the nearly 6 1/2 -furlong Las Cienegas. On Jan. 30, the Kentucky-bred defeated Solar Echo and nine others in the $81,000 Wishing Well.

The Las Cienegas, a Grade III, drew eight other older fillies and mares, including Quero Quero, Very Vegas, who won the 2004 La Habra in her first start on this course, Chasethegold and Winendynme.

Trained by Paulo Lobo for Old Friends Inc., Quero Quero, a 5-year-old Royal Academy mare, has won three of 11 on turf, including the 2003 Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park. Victor Espinoza will ride.

Race of the day: Razor, who has won three of six for Satish Sanan’s Padua Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen, tops a small field of five in today’s $100,000 Lafayette at Keeneland. John Velazquez will ride the 3-year-old Concorde’s Tune colt in the Grade III at six furlongs against More Smoke, who has also won three of six, Crimson Stag, Silent Bid, who will be ridden by Gary Stevens, and Marine Seal.

One for the road: Judge’s Case unleashed a strong run in the final quarter of a mile to win by a nose at 15-1 against $30,000 claimers on March 5, and the 8-year-old gelding gets a confident boost in class as he tries for a repeat in today’s sixth at Aqueduct. Apprentice Channing Hill will ride the gray son of Montbrook for LaMarca Stable and trainer Jason Servis in the $50,000 claimer at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Keystone Malibu, Holiday Fun and Virtuous Lady in the seventh, Elusive Diva, Quero Quero and Winendynme in the eighth, and Elusive Babe in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/199. Money: previous day/meet total: $11.40/$1,100.60. Total money bet: $1,328.