On the eve of sending out Bella Diamante in the Kentucky Oaks, trainer Allen Milligan had a big night at his home track of Lone Star Park. He won with two of his three starters, taking the second with Zoomin Cat ($8.20) and the third with Love Flyer ($12.20).
Zoomin Cat is a stout gelding, and he won a conditioned claimer at seven furlongs. Love Flyer, who is a nice-looking 3-year-old filly, won a $25,000 maiden claiming race at seven and a half furlongs on turf in her first start since last July.
Bella Diamante put in her final prep work for the Oaks at Lone Star, before shipping last weekend to Churchill Downs. Martin Escobar worked her here last Friday-when she went five-eighths in a bullet 58 seconds-and was aboard both Milligan winners Thursday night. Mike Smith will ride Bella Diamante in the Oaks.
Milligan, a North Texas native and the son of the late trainer Eddie Milligan Sr., won the Oaklawn title in 2009. He currently has divisions of his stable at Lone Star, Prairie Meadows and Louisiana Downs, which opens Saturday.
