The native Diver Handicap Grade Three

For Three-year-olds and Upwards

At a mile and an eighth on the dirt

Hollywood Park

December 3, 2011

Purse $100.000

As December rolls upon us it's just another day at the track for these runners as the Native Diver Handicap GIII drew a very interesting field of five horses. The field consists of a former Grade One winner, stakes placed runners, allowance runners and even claiming horses, the diversity of this field will make for an exciting race, who will it be at the end?

Devils Den from The Run Around stables seems to be making a comeback to active stakes company but he has not been the same horse he was since he was a two-year-old. He has been actively competing at the allowance level but has not separated himself from the class. Not only that, but his work out times suggest that he will find these a little bit more challenging and I find it hard to give him a winning nod here, maybe he could be freshened for next year and we can see how improved he gets if any.

Prevaricateur from Jerry Garcia Racing stables is aiming for his first Graded Stakes win and by the looks of how he is built the distance should be right up his alley, and with not much to fear amongst a field such as this he could be the dark horse in the race. Second last time out at the same distance in an Optional Claiming event in a speedy time of 1:47 4/5 he definitely has the goods to take it all the way.

The Machine has not been racing as long as most of his competitors but he is entering the race off a six race win streak since being claimed for $10.500, this will also mark his debut in stakes company. He has shown a liking to the longer distances and so therefore he will make his presence felt when this is being decided.

Biggus Dikkus is no stranger to Graded Company nor is he to the mile and an eighth distance. Since being claimed his new connections has raced him three times twice in Graded Stakes where he was third in both. The only concern about this one is that he doesn't have the stamina for races over a mile and in that case a minor share will be his best.

Finally, the lone three-year-old in the race Please Wait is one who likes the longer distances. His works in the mornings are those of Graded Stakes horses and in his debut is at a distance that he may love so there is no telling what will happen when the wire appears, but if he does not win this race will be a marquee event to set him up for bigger things to come next year as a four-year-old.