Native Diver

Aidekman, Ailshie and Harris' TRULY A JUDGE (Judge T C) went right to the

lead in Saturday's $100,000

Native Diver H. (G3) at Hollywood Park and was never

headed at any call, stopping the clock in 1:47 for the nine-furlong, fast track test. On the

front end from the beginning under Martin Pedroza, the dark bay was never

threatened by a closing Dynever (Dynaformer), who finished second with a strong

late run but could not get within two lengths.

Trained by David Bernstein, the gelding set fractions of :23 3/5 and :47 2/5

for the half-mile with Black Bart (Stage Colony) rating just to his outside and Supah Blitz (Mecke) right with those two on the rail. After three quarters in an

easy 1:11 1/5, Truly a Judge was still in front by a length. He got the mile in

1:34 4/5 and as Supah Blitz began to tail off and Dynever commenced his run a

little too late, Black Bart suddenly veered right and was pulled up and Truly a

Judge was clear. Calkins Road (Illinois Storm) came with a late run as well,

getting up for third behind Truly a Judge and Dynever.

The winner returned $14.80, $5.40 and $4.20 at 6-1, on top of a $20 exacta

($1). Dynever, sent off the near 6-5 favorite, gave back $2.80 and $2.60. Calkins Road

completed the $229.10 trifecta ($1) at 31-1, returning $9. Tizbud (Cee's Tizzy)

finished the 10-7-2-3 superfecta ($1), worth $1,304.50. They were followed under

the wire by Supah Blitz, Congrats (A.P. Indy) and Mud Shark (Deputy Commander).

Black Bart, who took an obvious bad step in midstretch, was vanned off. Formal

Attire (Formal Gold), Valid Again (Awesome Again) and Sigfreto (Spunky Rascal)

were scratched.

This was Truly a Judge's first graded stakes win and the six-year-old

improves his mark to 41-11-7-8 with earnings of $595,131. A 6 1/2-length winner

of an optional claimer last time, this was his third win of the year after

taking a race against that same company three back.

Bred in Kentucky by Robert H. Roberts & Bea Roberts, Truly a Judge is out of the stakes-winning

Truly Needy (Yukon). He has a yearling half-sister by Real Quiet and a weanling

half-sister by Artax, both unnamed.