Skye Diamonds gets class test

Skye Diamonds was within a half-length of the multiple graded stakes winner Vale Dori at the finish of the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes at Santa Anita on May 7. Since that second-place finish, trainer Bill Spawr has been delighted with the way Skye Diamonds has recovered from that race and progressed through the spring.

“She acts better,” Spawr said on Monday. “She’s put on weight, she’s happier, eats more.

“She finishes stronger, has more muscle tone – everything.”

Skye Diamonds will start Saturday in a graded stakes for the second time in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos. Similar to the Adoration Stakes, the $200,000 Great Lady M. will be a class test for Skye Diamonds. The race is led by Finest City, the 2016 champion female sprinter.

Tyler Baze will ride Finest City. Baze rode Finest City when she finished second to Vale Dori in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes on March 18. Mike Smith has ridden Finest City regularly since last November but is riding in New York on Saturday.

Skye Diamonds has been a remarkable filly in the last year. Owned by the partnership of Tom Acker, Allen Racing, and Bloom Racing, Skye Diamonds was claimed for $40,000 at Del Mar last August. Since then, she has won four of six starts, including the Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile at Santa Anita on March 26. She has earned $209,100 since being claimed.

“I hate to say this, but I think she’s getting better,” Spawr said.

Other probable starters for the Great Lady M. Stakes include Avicii, Constellation, Cuddle Alert, Pretty N Cool, and Shenandoah Queen.

What a View gets summer off

What a View, who has won four stakes since the start of 2016, will be given a summer break after finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on June 3.

Trainer Kenny Black said last weekend that What a View will miss the Del Mar summer meeting that begins on July 19.

“He’s a better horse on this grass,” Black said in reference to Santa Anita’s turf course.

What a View has won 7 of 21 starts and earned $824,671. He won the minor Crystal Water Stakes for California-bred turf milers May 20 but was beaten 13 lengths by Bal a Bali in the Shoemaker Mile.

Earlier this year, What a View was second in three consecutive turf stakes at Santa Anita: the California Cup Turf Classic in January, the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes in February, and the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile in March. He lost those last two races each by a head.

“We’ll give him a few months off,” Black said. “He came out of the last race tired, and he’d lost some weight.”

What a View races for a partnership that includes Finish Line Racing, the Johnston family’s Old English Rancho, and Taste of Victory Stables.

La Sardane points to San Clemente

La Sardane, the winner of the Group 2 Prix Sandringham in France last month, recently joined trainer Neil Drysdale’s California stable and is scheduled to have her California debut in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar on July 23.

Owned by the Team Valor International partnership, La Sardane has had two workouts on the Santa Anita infield training track since arriving in California in June.

By Kingsalsa, La Sardane has won 2 of 7 starts and earned $119,276. In the $146,700 Prix Sandringham at about a mile on turf at Chantilly Racecourse, La Sardane won by a length over Gold Luck, who finished a neck in front of Senga. On June 18, Senga won the Group 1 French Oaks at Chantilly.

The leading candidate for the $200,000 San Clemente Handicap is Sircat Sally, who is undefeated in seven starts, including the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on June 17.

Surrender Now eyes Sorrento

The undefeated Surrender Now is expected to have two starts at the Del Mar summer meeting following her first stakes win in Sunday’s Landaluce Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

Surrender Now won the Landaluce at 5 1/2 furlongs by eight lengths after disputing the early pace. Even though she had a forward position, trainer Peter Miller said the filly can adapt to any pace situation.

“She relaxes now,” Miller said. “She doesn’t need the lead, and she can wait for her cue from the rider.”

Owned by Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch, Surrender Now will be considered for the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 5 and the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs Sept. 2.

The same races are likely to draw Diamonds and pearls, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday. Diamonds and pearls was bought for $1.7 million at a sale of 2-year-olds in training this year and was an easy winner of a maiden race at five furlongs in her debut Sunday.