Diana Stakes 2023 Betting Guide: How to Bet on the July 15th Race

The Diana Stakes is an annual thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Established in 1939, the race plays host to fillies and mares aged three and older and spans one and one-eighth (1.125) miles on the turf course. The race attained Grade I status in 2003 and currently offers a purse of $500,000

Understanding the Diana Stakes

History of the Diana Stakes

The Diana Stakes holds a significant place in the horse racing calendar, attracting talented fillies and mares to compete on the turf at Saratoga Race Course. Here is a summarized history of the Diana Stakes:

• Inauguration – The Diana Stakes was first run in 1939, on a dirt track at Saratoga.
• Grade I Status – In 2003, the Diana Stakes earned Grade I status, signifying its high level of competition and prestige.
• Purse – The current purse for the Diana Stakes stands at $500,000, making it an attractive event for owners, trainers, and jockeys.
• Split Divisions – Due to large fields, the race has been split into two divisions on a few occasions. This occurred in 1973, 1982, and 1983.
• Temporary Relocation – During World War II, from 1943 to 1945, the Diana Stakes was temporarily held at Belmont Park due to travel restrictions.

Previous Winners and Performances

The Diana Stakes has seen many noteworthy past winners and memorable performances throughout its history. Here are some notable examples:

• Shuvee (1969, 1970) – Shuvee won the Diana Stakes in back-to-back years, becoming the first horse to achieve this feat. She was a multiple champion and earned induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

• Waya (1979) – Waya, a French-bred mare, not only won the Diana Stakes but also set a course record for one and one-eighth miles on the turf at Saratoga Race Course.

• All Along (1983) – All Along, a champion European mare, made history by becoming the first foreign-bred horse to win the Diana Stakes. She went on to win numerous prestigious races, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

• Perfect Sting (2000) – Perfect Sting, a talented filly trained by Joe Orseno, captured the Diana Stakes and went on to have an exceptional career. She later won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and was crowned the Eclipse Award winner for Champion Turf Female.

• Winter Memories (2011) – Winter Memories showcased her turf prowess by winning the Diana Stakes impressively. She was a multiple Grade 1 winner and known for her strong late kick.

• Lady Eli (2017) – Lady Eli, an immensely popular and talented mare, triumphed in a thrilling edition of the Diana Stakes. She overcame adversity and health issues during her career, becoming an inspiration to many racing fans.

How to Bet on the Diana Stakes

Betting on the Diana Stakes can be simple, with only a few steps being necessary before the wager is placed. Here’s how to bet on the Diana Stakes:

• Determine your Budget – Deciding how much you’re willing to allocate to betting is an unofficial, yet critically important first step of betting on any sporting event.

• Learn the Bet Types – Horse racing comes with several bet types that new bettors won’t immediately recognize. It’s important to know the markets to ensure that you’re making the bet you want to make – and there isn’t another bet available that you’d prefer.

• Do your Homework – Information about the competing horses will be available in the days before the race. Learn what you can about each horse’s competitive history, recent injuries, jockeys, and trainers.

• Decide on your Bets – Based on your analysis, choose the horse(s) you want to bet on and the type of bet you want to make on them.

• Decide on your Wager – Once your bet type is selected, you’ll have to determine the amount you want to wager on the bet.

• Confirm and Place your Bet – The final step of placing the bet is confirming, once your bet type and wager are set, that you agree to place the bet. This step will come with electronic confirmation from the operator at a mobile sportsbook, or other confirmation at either on-site or off-site betting facilities.

Different Bet Types

There are several different ways to bet on the Diana Stakes at AmWager, ranging from straightforward bets on the winner of the race to complex bets that cover multiple outcomes at the top of the standings. Some of these bets include:

• Win – A bet on a specific horse to win the race.
• Place – A bet on a specific horse to finish first or second in the race.
• Show – A bet on a specific horse to finish first, second, or third in the race.
• Exacta – A bet on the two horses to finish first and second in a particular order.
• Trifecta – A bet on the three horses to finish first, second, and third, in a particular order.
• Superfecta – A bet on the four horses to finish first, second, third, and fourth, in a particular order.
• Box – A variation of exacta, trifecta, or superfecta betting; the minimum wager increases, but the bet wins regardless of the order in which the horses finish the race.

This isn’t an exhaustive list; different sportsbooks may offer additional types or different variations of these bets.

Betting Tips for the Diana Stakes 

Betting on the Diana Stakes is a fun way to enjoy the event for both regular sports bettors and casual fans, but it can be intimidating for newcomers. Here are some pointers to help new bettors increase their odds of winning and enjoy their experience, whether or not they win:

• Set a budget – Before placing any bets, it’s vital that you have a budget set for the race and are comfortable with the total amount being wagered. Failure to budget can lead to chasing losses, which can lead to those losses being compounded.

• Research the participants – Each horse in the race will have information about their recent performances, injuries, trainer, and jockey publicly available. Taking time to look into the background of the horses can help with making informed bets.

• Understand the different bet types – There’s a range of ways to bet on horse races, including the Diana Stakes. Be sure you know what kind of bet you’re making, and that there isn’t a market available that more accurately reflects your predicted outcome and/or level of confidence in it.

• Watch the odds – As a horse race, the Diana Stakes utilizes parimutuel betting. Odds will change significantly as bets are placed, and keeping a watchful eye on the odds is the only way to notice changes in the favorites before betting closes.

Expert Picks and Betting Strategies for the Diana Stakes

Only five contenders have registered for this race – while each has recently won a graded stakes race, In Italian (-250) is highly likely to take an early lead. Furthermore, she has been victorious in four of her last five races, consistently crossing the finish line in first place.

In the past 12 months, In Italian has competed in five races, securing wins in four of them. Her only setback occurred in the Breeders Cup, where she led for a significant portion of the race but ultimately finished in second place. In Italian emerged as the winner of this race in the previous year and has amassed earnings exceeding $1.9 million, with a total of seven wins out of 11 starts.

In Italian is trained by Chad Brown, who also oversees the training of Marketsegmentation (+400), Fluffy Socks (+800), and Whitebeam (+500). Marketsegmentation has triumphed in three consecutive races and has emerged victorious in four out of five starts overall.

Fluffy Socks achieved a victory following a lengthy break from racing on the Kentucky Derby undercard. In her three attempts at Saratoga, she has finished in second place twice. One of her most notable performances may have been her runner-up finish in last year’s Balston Spa Stakes at Saratoga.

Whitebeam has competed twice in the United States, narrowly missing a victory in New York in April and subsequently winning on the Preakness undercard in Baltimore two months ago. Notably, the horses that finished second and third behind Whitebeam at Pimlico have both gone on to win races.

The only entry not trained by Chad Brown is Fev Rover (+1200), who achieved a victory two weeks ago at Woodbine. Previously a two-time Grade 2 winner under the guidance of Mark Casse, this race marks her debut in American racing after attaining two wins in four starts in Canada.