Diabolic | Horse Racing Free Tips

Wild Beauty Looms Large in Natalma

Three years ago, the Godolphin-owned and Charlie Appleby-conditioned La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) used placings in the Listed Star S. and in the G3 Sweet Solera S. as a stepping-stones to victory in the GI Natalma S. at Woodbine. Connections will be hoping that lightning strikes twice Sunday with Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who has charted precisely the same course into the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf at Del Mar Nov.5.

Whereas La Pelosa finished third in the Star S. at Goodwood, Wild Beauty went one better, chasing home hot favorite Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who subsequently hacked up at 20 cents on the dollar in Doncaster's G2 May Hill S. Sept. 9. Wild Beauty and La Pelosa both finished runner-up in the Sweet Solera contested over a straight seven furlongs at Newmarket and she should appreciate the extra eighth of a mile Sunday.

D J Stable and Nexus Racing's Diabolic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) looks to take her unbeaten streak to four while stretching out in trip for the first time. Purchased for £90,000 out of last year's Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, the gray filly validated 8-5 favoritism with a neck success sprinting five grassy furlongs at Gulfstream May 20 before adding the My Dear S. over the local synthetic surface July 31. It was back to the turf when prepping for this in the Aug. 21 Catch a Glimpse S. and Diabolic made a run from next to last to report home a length to the good of Royal Engagement (Palace Malice), with Mrs. Barbara (Bodemeister) another length and three-quarters back in third.

Bobby Flay homebred Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) holds the distinction of being the lone runner in the field of 10 with a victory going long, having graduated by three-parts of a length at first asking at Saratoga July 22. Joel Rosario retains the mount for Christophe Clement.

Ready Lady (More Than Ready) belied generous odds to score by a half-length on her seven-furlong debut Aug. 28 and will try to follow in the hoofprints of her half-sister 'TDN Rising Star' Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), who won this event last year by 3/4 of a length off a somewhat more decisive first-out success.

Eminent Victor (Mr. Z) earned a competitive 74 Beyer for a debut score over the Arlington Poly and has since been acquired by Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group and Louis Lazzinaro. She makes her first appearance for Chad Brown here.

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Diabolic Gets Second Stakes Win in Catch A Glimpse At Woodbine

Diabolic, under a patient Antonio Gallardo, found daylight along the rail and took off in the stretch to win the $127,250 Catch A Glimpse Stakes, Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The daughter of Dark Angel-Seafront arrived at the 6 ½-furlong turf event for 2-year-old fillies off two straight scores to launch her career, including an impressive effort in the My Dear Stakes on July 31 at Woodbine.

Despite acting up in the gate, Diabolic, at even-money, settled down to deliver trainer Mark Casse and owners D.J. Stable LLC & Nexus Racing Club, with a natural hat trick.

Silver Magnatized and Curlin Candy dueled for the early lead as Gallardo and Diabolic were an unhurried seventh of eight through a quarter in :23.19.

After Silver Magnatized took the field through a half-mile in :46.29, Gallardo roused Diabolic, and as the field straightened for home, the pair took aim at the frontrunners, steadily gaining along the inside to grab a one-length lead at the stretch call.

At the wire, Diabolic was a one-length winner in a time of 1:15.81 over firm going. Royal Engagement was second, while Miss Barbara, also a Casse trainee, finished third.

“She ran pretty good off the pace,” said Gallardo after the local prep for the $400,000 Grade 1 Natalma Stakes on September 19, a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event. “I saw a couple of horses with speed today going a little longer distance than last time, so I settled down; tried to save some ground. She's a nice filly. I saw the inside hole and I only asked her a little bit and she just rolled.”

The grey, bred in Ireland by Yeomanstown Stud, paid $4.30 for the win.

“She's improved,” said Gallardo. “Every race, she tells you she's something, no matter if it's five furlongs, 6 ½, Polytrack, 6 ½ on the turf… she's classy. She can do everything all the time.”

It was a fitting victory for Casse, who conditioned Catch A Glimpse, Canada's Horse of the Year, Outstanding 2-Year-Old Filly, and Outstanding Turf Female of 2015 after winning Woodbine's Grade 1 Natalma and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.

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Home, Sweet (Woodbine) Home For Antonio Gallardo

Antonio Gallardo didn't need to say a word to let it be known he felt right at home.

First came the victory, the one aboard Diabolic in the My Dear Stakes on July 31, then came the winning walk to the Woodbine winner's circle, and then came the ear-to-ear smile.

He duplicated the feat – and same expression – the following day when he guided Queen's Plate-bound Avoman to a score in the Plate Trial.

The jockey from Jerez de la Frontera, in Cadiz, Spain, who had just started riding at Canada's Showplace of Racing, was in familiar territory.

“I like Woodbine,” said the 34-year-old. “I like it a lot. The racetrack, the facility, the people – everyone and everything is very nice. Obviously, I was very happy to have success in the Plate Trial and the day before with Mark Casse's filly. They are two very good horses and it was nice to win with them.”

Winning races is nothing new for Gallardo, even if it didn't start out that way nearly 13 years ago.

Although didn't hit the board when he launched his life in the irons in the U.S. with a single mount on New Year's Eve in 2008, success would soon come.

A modest seven-win campaign in 2009 was followed by seasons of 41, 31 and 42 victories.

It was in 2013, however, when Gallardo established himself as a rider on the rise, his confidence and win total hitting stride simultaneously.

With the first 100-win campaign (101, to be exact) in the U.S. under his saddle, business and opportunities flourished, with one of the highlights coming aboard 14-1 Flatter in the 2013 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Gallardo has excelled in the Sunshine State over the years.

To date, he counts five riding championships at Tampa, and is the track's single-season record holder with 147 winners, established in 2014-15.

He also has four riding titles at Presque Isle Downs, where he took the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) aboard Hotshot Anna.

But his successes don't end there.

Gallardo has finished in the top six in races won in North America in five of the last six years, including second-place finishes in 2015 and 2016. He has nine graded stakes on his resume, highlighted by Chad Brown trainee Funtastic's triumph in the 2018 running of the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park.

He's even made headlines off the track.

After an interview with a reporter from Fuera de Serie, a lifestyle and leisure supplement found in Spain's El Mundo newspaper, Gallardo became the first athlete to grace the magazine's cover since soccer megastar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Now, Gallardo will look to become front-page racing news at Woodbine. He likes what he sees.

“The track gives you three different courses, which I like. The turf [E.P. Taylor Turf Course] with the long stretch, it teaches you to be patient, the Inner Turf, it's about speed and you have to be close. I'm very happy with the way things have gone so far.”

It might be enough for Gallardo to shed the nomadic ways he's known over the past few racing seasons.

Setting up shop at Woodbine for the long-term might not be such a longshot.

“My goal is to try and see how I do this year and if all goes well, to come back next year. I really like it. I'm tired of moving my tack everywhere and travelling so much. I think Woodbine is perfect for me – riding in one place eight months of the year. I want to work hard, find good horses, and make the most of my opportunities. If things go well in the next few years here, maybe the other four months I can just relax with my family, go on vacations, something like that. Who knows? I don't know yet. I try to go with the flow and see how things play out. But I do like the idea of racing eight months at one track, and to not travel so much.”

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Regardless of where Gallardo finds himself or what career choices he has made and will make, he knows he'll have the support of those closest to him.

FaceTime with his family, currently living in Florida, is a daily routine. He also keeps in touch with his parents, Antonio and Paqui, who live in Spain.

“My family has always been there for me,” said Gallardo, who was joined by his wife Polliana and the couple's children, Carlos and Christa, when he achieved his 2,000th win in his 9,807th start, this February at Tampa Bay Downs. “Being a jockey is a tough life and a tough job, but they make it easy for me to focus on what I do. They inspire me every day.”

That inspiration is one of many reasons Gallardo is off to a hot start at Woodbine.

“I approach every race the same way. I do as much homework as I can on my horse so that I can give them the best chance to win the race. So far, things have gone really well here. I'm very happy.”

It's what happens, smiled Gallardo, when you feel right at home.

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Diabolic Takes My Dear In Stakes Debut At Woodbine

Diabolic was full of run late in taking the $125,000 My Dear Stakes Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The trio of Bid Once, Royal Engagement, and first-time starter Curlin Candy duked it out in the early stages of the 5 ½-furlong Tapeta race for 2-year-old fillies, but it was Diabolic, making her stakes debut, who delivered the knockout punch for trainer Mark Casse.

Despite acting up before the start, the daughter of Dark Angel, with Antonio Gallardo in the irons, hit her stride as soon as the gates opened and then watched the front-end proceedings from along the rail.

It was Bid Once who held a narrow advantage through an opening quarter-mile of :22.64, with Royal Engagement and Curlin Candy right alongside. Gallardo maintained a patient hand, sitting mid-pack, through a half-mile timed in :45.79, waiting for the right moment to make his move.

As the field turned from home, Diabolic was pivoted to the outside and instantly began to track down the leaders with each stride.

At the wire, the gray filly won by 2 ¼ lengths, with Curlin Candy in second and Royal Engagement third. Lois Len, the 9-5 choice, was fourth.

The final time was 1:04.15.

Diabolic, owned by D.J. Stable and Nexus Racing Club, arrived at the My Dear off a gutsy neck nod in her career bow at Gulfstream on May 20, rallying to win a five-furlong turf sprint.

“She was sitting down in the gate and I was a little nervous on how she'd be breaking,” said Gallardo, who celebrated his first Woodbine stakes win. “I don't see myself being on the lead or too close. I watched the replay when she won with Jaramillo [jockey, Emisael] in Gulfstream and I can see she is very smart. I wanted to be saving ground and following the speed. Really, she did everything perfect. When I pulled her in the clear, I asked and she gave me 100 percent. She's a nice filly.”

Bred by Yeomanstown Stud in Ireland, Diabolic paid $9.20 for the win.

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