California Diamond © Benoit Photo 

 

California Diamond, an emerging star in the two-year-old division with five victories in seven starts, heads a field of five two-year-olds Saturday in the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs.

 

Fresh from victory in the Golden State Juvenile two weeks ago at Santa Anita, California Diamond figures to be a solid favorite under jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr., who will be deputizing for regular rider Kent Desormeaux. The latter will be competing in the $1 million Delta Jackpot at Louisiana Downs.

 

California Diamond, a California-bred son of Harbor the Gold owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller, will be seeking his fourth straight triumph and fifth success in a stakes. His only defeats came at Del Mar last summer when he was runner-up in both the Graduation and I’m Smokin stakes.

 

California Diamond will pack 124 pounds in the Bob Hope, conceding six pounds to his rivals, namely, Ann Arbor Eddie, Mario Gutierrez; Bernin Sensation, Martin Garcia; Mastery, Mike Smith, and Oopper Wallah, Gary Stevens.

 

Mastery, from the barn of trainer Bob Baffert, should attract support on the basis of his lone outing, an easy four and one-quarter length win in a maiden race, timed in 1:09.40 October 22 at Santa Anita. Ann Arbor Eddie, Bernin Sensation and Oopper Wallah are all maiden winners.

 

Post time for the first of nine races Saturday will be 12:30 p.m.