The morning following the big win by Lauren and Ralph Evans' Diversify (Bellamy Road) in Saratoga's prestigious GI Whitney S. Saturday, trainer Rick Violette Jr. confirmed his stable star was a “a pretty happy camper.” According to Violette, the imposing bay was “tired but content.”
Offering an update on the gelding's post-race morning, Violette said, “He's supposed to be tired. If he wasn't, I'd be a little concerned. We kicked him out in the [round pen] for a couple hours and let him graze for another hour. He had a pretty cool morning, and he still didn't want to go into his stall. Sometimes you just have to listen to them. He kept telling me [prior to the Whitney], 'Don't be a chicken, put me in,' and it worked out. He was pretty special yesterday.”
The Whitney was his third consecutive stakes victory following the May 28 Commentator S. against New York-breds and romp in the July 7 GII Suburban–both at Belmont Park. His Whitney score earned Diversify an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.
Looking ahead, Violette added, “I probably won't even nominate to the [Sept. 1] Woodward. Off this race and the two before that, I just think it would be unreasonable. It's four weeks and then four weeks to the [Sept. 29 GI] Jockey Club [Gold Cup] and then four weeks to the Breeders' Cup. I don't think that's logical. I think we will set our sights on the Gold Cup and see what happens after that. We could go right to the Breeders' Cup if the situation arises, but he does like Belmont. I've said it too many times; if you want to make God laugh, make long-range plans.”
Whitney runner-up Mind Your Biscuits (Posse) also appeared in good spirits, according to his trainer Chad Summers.
“I came back last night about midnight, the feed tub was licked clean,” said Summers. “He was calling for more food, I gave him another scoop, he ate it up. He walked the shedrow this morning, and I couldn't be happier with how he came out of the race.”
Summers indicated the plan is to keep all options on the table for this season's G1 Golden Shaheen, adding that he could be under consideration for the Woodward.
“Rick Violette taught me a very important lesson yesterday,” said Summers. “If he's doing good on the morning of the entries, we'll enter in the Woodward, but it would be between one of four races right now: the Woodward [Saratoga], the [GII] Kelso [one mile, Belmont, Sept. 22], the [GIII] Ack Ack [one mile [Churchill Downs, Sept. 29] or the [GIII] Lukas Classic [1/8 miles; Churchill Downs, Sept. 29].”
Whitney third-place finisher Discreet Lover (Repent) appears likely to make his next start in the Woodward, according to trainer Uriah S. Lewis. Norma's Charm (Creative Cause), fifth in the GI Test S., is also possible to make another start at the Spa this meet.
“We are going to take it one step at a time, but the Woodward is next,” said St. Lewis of Discreet Lover. “Both horses came out of their races good. We're going home and get a few days off. In a few days, if he says he is ready, we go back into training. We'll probably bring him back up here a little early.”
Discreet Lover won the nine-furlong GIII Excelsior S. at Aqueduct earlier this spring.
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