How to bet the 2025 Diana Stakes

A fantastic field of six fillies and mares will run 1 1/8 miles over the Saratoga inner turf surface in Saturday’s $500,000 Diana S. (G1). Four of the six in the standout group are Grade 1 heroines, while the other pair of runners in the cast are coming off runner-up finishes in the Grade 1 ranks. 

The sensational #1 She Feels Pretty (even-money) has won four races in succession dating back to October since adding blinkers and will look to move her streak to five in this demanding spot for conditioner Cherie DeVaux. By Karakontie, the four-year-old has been a top-level performer since her juvenile season with Grade 1 wins at two, three, and four, and she shows no signs of slowing down. 

The chestnut kicked off 2025 with a facile triumph in the Modesty S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 2, and she overcame yielding going on this lawn most recently to register a half-length tally in the New York S. (G1) last time out. She cuts back in distance on Saturday, which is a plus, and if she gets firmer ground in this spot, then she will be even that much more difficult to take down. Regular pilot John Velazquez has the call and will have the Kentucky-bred filly tracking the pace from second or third in the early stages of the affair. 

Trainer Chad Brown has a pair of talented contenders in the cast, and both merit a ton of respect. #4 Excellent Truth (5-2) has checked in second in a trio of top-level races in a row and will not need improvement to be a menacing figure in the heat. The Cotai Glory mare was a bit unlucky when second in the Jenny Wiley S. (G1) at Keeneland in April, which preceded a closing second in the Just A Game S. (G1) at The Spa on June 6. She could peak in her third run since arriving in the U. S. with Flavien Prat in the silks. 

Just A Game upsetter #5 Dynamic Pricing (9-2) owns a win and a third from two local tries in advance of Saturday and is two-for-two in 2025. The Night of Thunder filly was a Grade 2 victress as a sophomore but has elevated her game this campaign, and she could take another step forward in her third appearance of the season, too. Irish-bred bay is a bit of a question mark at nine panels, but she is very good right now and will be making her run late with Dylan Davis retaining the mount. 

Wagers:

$15 exacta 1 with 4,5 ($30)
$5 trifecta key 1 with 4,5 ($10)