Benoit Photo
$150,000 TOC/CTT Cal Cup Matron
ROMANCE IS DIANE

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2007) – Grade I winner Romance Is Diane changed tactics Saturday and scored a front-running five-length victory in the $150,000 TOC/CTT California Cup Matron for fillies and mares at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Romance Is Diane is by In Excess, out of the Prized mare Romantic Fibs, making her a full sister to Grade II winner Romanceishope. She was bred by Swan Equine, was foaled at Magali Farms and is owned by Senji Nishimura. She was ridden by Michael Baze and trained by Mike Mitchell.

Facing older competition for the first time in the Matron, the 3-year-old now has four wins in 10 starts, earnings of $507,660 and was coming off a second in the Sept. 2 Torrey Pines.

Romance Is Diane is only the fourth two-time Cal Cup winner, having taken the Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies race last year to earn the title of champion Cal-bred 2-year-old filly. She ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.38, the fastest time of the meet on the new Cushion Track at Santa Anita, and went off at odds of 5-1.

Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Bai and Bai was second and there was a dead-heat for third between Swiss Current and Purrfectly Fitting.

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