Three Hearts, Diversy Harbor Meet Again

Graded stakes winners Three Hearts and Diversy Harbor, both exiting the March 15 Santa Ana Stakes (gr. IIT), provide the most class in a field of nine older fillies and mares set for the $150,000 Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIIT) April 18 at Santa Anita Park.

Glen Hill Farm’s Diversy Harbor, with Gary Stevens aboard, last won the Buena Vista Stakes (gr. IIT) Feb. 16 at Santa Anita and will the highweight, carrying 120 pounds from post 6 for the 1 1/4-mile turf test.

BOSSERT: Diversy Harbor Rallies to Win Buena Vista

But the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin   finished sixth in the Santa Ana for trainer Tom Proctor—two lengths behind second-place finisher Three Hearts—as the 5-2 favorite.

Owned by Team Valor International and trained by Neil Drysdale, Three Hearts hung on gamely behind winner Hoop of Colour in the Santa Ana. The 5-year-old mare by Hat Trick   also has a victory in the Red Carpet Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Del Mar Nov. 22 on her resume, will break from the rail with jockey Tyler Baze under 119 pounds.

BALAN: Hoop of Colour Claims Santa Ana Stakes

Other minor stakes winners entered are Godolphin runner Arethusa, who won last time out in an allowance/optional claiming event at Santa Anita and also won the Sharp Cat Stakes at Hollywood Park in 2013; Jan. 17’s Megahertz Stakes winner Fanticola, who figures to set the pace in the Santa Barbara; Irish-bred Queen of The Sand, who last won in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in November but was eighth in the Santa Ana; and East Coast shipper Walk Close, who has never raced in California and whose last victory came in the Wild Applause Stakes at Belmont Park last June.

Other entrants include New Zealand-bred import Habibi, who has yet to score in two U.S. starts; three-time maiden and allowance-level winner Industrial Policy; and maiden winner Tangelo, who has yet to defeat winners in five tries.