Blue Diamond Eyes culled the flames of red-hot Breeders Crown champ Fire Start Hanover and emerged victorious in the $323,600 Three Diamonds Final—sponsored by Daniel Baer & South Mountain Stables.

Driver David Miller had Blue Diamond Eyes revved early, powering for the front past a :27.3 first quarter to pocket Notorious Pink into the backstretch. Fire Start Hanover race fourth into the backstretch and gradually edged off the pylons until committing first over by a :56 half. Once taken outside, Fire Start Hanover rolled towards Blue Diamond Eyes to battle the leader by three-quarters in 1:23.3.

However, the far-turn blitz paid its toll on Fire Start Hanover as she retreated through the field with shortening strides. Blue Diamond Eyes meanwhile blazed to the finish while prompted by pocket-popping Notorious Pink, who settled for second by one-and-a-half lengths in the 1:51.1 mile. Thebeachiscalling wove through traffic for third with Lindy At The Beach taking fourth.

“Really where she turned her whole year around was in the Kentucky Sires Stakes,” trainer Ron Burke said after the race. “She went down, re-found herself, then she came back and won the final. Then even in the Breeders Crown, we couldn’t get her in the right spots. Last week [David Miller] said she’s ready for a big effort and he said we’ll give it to her this week. Like, we’re just going to put her on the front and make them come beat her. He was very right—I knew when they came into the last turn [that] they’d have to pace hard to get around her, because she’ll fight when she gets the lead.”

Winning her fifth race from 13 starts, Blue Diamond Eyes has banked $554,617 for owners Thomas & Scott Dillon. The filly by Captaintreacherous-Aria Hanover returned $11.40 to win.

The Three Diamonds was one of a number of major races on a stakes-packed Saturday card at The Meadowlands. Check out the rest of the recaps in the TVG / Fall Final Four News Centre.

(The Meadowlands)