Diamond Bar Gal © Benoit Photo

The Ellwood Johnston Trust and partners Diamond Bar Gal, a lightly raced daughter of the late stallion Vronsky, scampered over five furlongs on turf in :57.30 and hung tough late to hold off fast-closing Nene Diamond to capture the Thursday feature at Del Mar by a diminishing nose.

Armando Ayuso was in the boot for the score after trainer Brian Koriner had given him a leg up. It was only the second start of the year for the 4-year-old filly and her fourth start overall as she earned a first prize of $45,600 from the gross purse of $78,500 in the filly/mare allowance test for California-breds.

Nene Diamond, who runs for Slugo Racing and had leading rider Juan Hernandez in the irons, just missed with her late charge. Finish third, a length farther back, was Irvin Racing Stable’s Giant Kid under Kyle Frey.

The winner, who was capturing her second overall victory, pushed her bankroll to $108,840 and paid $8.20 to her backers.

Racing resumes at Del Mar Friday with first post at 3 p.m. for the eight-race card.