Haute Diva Springs 14-1 Upset in $175,000 Cash Run

First of Three Stakes on New Year’s Day Holiday Program

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – JSM Equine’s Haute Diva, back on dirt after a two-turn try on the turf, came with a sweeping move on the far outside and closed relentlessly through the stretch to register a 14-1 upset of Thursday’s $175,000 Cash Run at Gulfstream Park.

Contested at a one-turn mile for newly turned 3-year-old fillies, the sixth running of the Cash Run was the first of three stakes worth $450,000 in purses on a special 10-race New Year’s Day holiday program that kicked off the 2026 portion of the Championship Meet.

Ridden by David Egan for trainer Patrick Biancone, Haute Diva ($31.60) covered a fast main track in 1:39.94 for her second win from seven starts. The other came in a 3 ¾-length maiden triumph Sept. 27 going a two-turn mile on the grass at Gulfstream.

Haute Diva nearly repeated that effort in her prior start at the course and distance Dec. 6 but came up a neck shy as the favorite, also with Egan up. One race earlier, she was eased while last of six in the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland.

“I went to the turf for the two turns because she wants distance anyway, and after she ran well the other day we said, ‘Let’s go to the dirt.’ David knows her and he rode her perfectly,” Biancone said. “She’s still a big baby. She will improve a lot from that.”

Haute Diva was unhurried early as even-money favorite Secane broke running from her far outside post and went straight to the front, leading through a quarter-mile in 24.93 seconds and a half in 48.48, with Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained stablemate Jetty’s Home splitting horses in a tight back to challenge in second.

Egan and Haute Diva began to roll on the far turn following Nycon, who had taken over second. Haute Diva came with a steady run down the lane to edge Nycon by a neck. It was another neck back to Secane in third.

“[I] got a clean trip on the outside and gradually maneuvered my way out. She took me within a half-length of the first two. She’s a temperamental filly. She wants to nurse into it rather than bullying. She’s the boss,” Egan said. “[The plan was] to keep her happy wherever she was to break. She’s not a filly you can rush, just let her find her feet. She came to hand when I needed her.”

Dunmore Beach, Vita Mia and Jetty’s Home completed the order of finish. Blazing Brat, last-out runner up in the Dec. 6 Sandpiper at Tampa Bay Downs, was scratched.

“She’s a very talented filly. We’ve had her for a long time, and we know that,” Biancone said. “The problem that she had is that she was very difficult at the track, difficult to saddle, difficult going to the start. She got better gradually by running and learning.”

Biancone said Haute Diva would remain on the dirt and point for Gulfstream’s 3-year-old filly stakes series, which continues with the $150,000 Forward Gal (G3) Jan. 31, also sprinting seven furlongs, $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) going one mile Feb. 28 and $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 28.

“I think next should be the Forward Gal. We’ll stay home and point for the Gulfstream Oaks,” he said. “She’s a dirt horse. The only reason I went to the turf was for the two turns.”