Skinner Triumphs in Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar
- Skinner, a 4-year-old colt, won the Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday.
- The Native Diver Stakes is a Grade 3 race with a purse of $100,000.
- He noted that the race had a lot of speed, but Berrios kept Skinner in a good position.
Skinner Wins the Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar
Skinner, a 4-year-old colt, won the Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday. He tracked the leaders for the first eight furlongs before making his move. Under jockey Hector I. Berrios, Skinner pushed past two rivals and won the race by one length.
The Native Diver Stakes is a Grade 3 race with a purse of $100,000. Skinner covered the nine furlongs on the main track in a time of 1:48.95. He paid $9.00 for every $2 bet.
Trainer John Shirreffs praised Berrios’s riding. He noted that the race had a lot of speed, but Berrios kept Skinner in a good position. Shirreffs celebrated his first win in the Native Diver and his 22nd stakes victory at Del Mar.
Berrios commented on Skinner’s performance leading up to the race. He mentioned that Skinner felt different during his last workout and showed readiness on race day. Berrios successfully guided Skinner to the front, where the horse looked around and maintained focus.
The second-place finisher was Tarantino, who led early. He finished ahead of Mixto, who came in third.
With this victory, Skinner earned $60,000. His career earnings now stand at $377,300, with two wins in 12 starts and five stakes placements, including second place in the same race last year.