New York-bred 'TDN Rising Star' Diversify (Bellamy Road) streaked to his third-straight front-running victory and first in graded company in Saturday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park to earn a guaranteed spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. It was a length back to favored Keen Ice (Curlin) in second. 'TDN Rising Star' Pavel (Creative Cause) was third.
“We did pick up the 'Win and You're In' for the Classic today, but we're going to enjoy today's race and give it a couple of days,” winning trainer Rick Violette said. “I talk it over with [owners] Lauren and Ralph Evans and we'll come up with a decision next week.”
Diversify was backed as the 7-2 second-choice following wins in the Saginaw S. at Belmont July 2 and the 1 1/8-miles Evan Shipman S. at Saratoga Aug. 21, both for New York-breds. He earned a career-high 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the latter, an 11 1/2-length wire-to-wire romp.
Diversify was placed immediately on the lead from his rail draw here and showed the way through uncontested fractions of :24.17 and :47.74. He kicked for home in command, but Keen Ice and Pavel began breathing down his neck in the lane. That pair continued to chip away at Diversify's advantage while locked together, but the leader kept on finding more to register a career high. Fellow New York-bred Haynesfield also won this race in 2010.
“We couldn't have dreamed of a better scenario,” Violette said. “The first quarter, going in :24 was ideal. He's done nothing but get better from the early summer until now. He's always been a nice horse, but he's certainly jumped into the major leagues here today. [Keen Ice] might've moved a little earlier than he wanted to because we were always loose on the lead. The pace certainly made the race for us. My only instructions to Irad [Ortiz Jr.] was to ride him like he rode him in Saratoga.”
Ortiz added, “He's a good horse and he's improving. He's growing up and he was that good today. He was ready to run today. He was challenged and responded. Before, he used to play a little bit and would wait for horses. He doesn't do that as much anymore, so he's getting better.”
Pedigree Notes:
The winner's dam Rule One, winless in six career attempts for owner/breeder Earle Mack, was bred to More Than Ready this season. Her most recent produce is an unraced Data Link 2-year-old filly. Rule One brought $57,000 from Fred W. Hertrich III at the 2010 KEENOV Sale. Diversify, an impressive winner of his first two attempts for WinStar Farm and Rick Violette, was acquired by Ralph and Lauren Evans for $210,000 at the 2016 KEENOV Sale.
Saturday, Belmont
JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP S.-GI, $750,000, BEL, 10-7, 3yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:00.96, ft.
1–DIVERSIFY, 126, g, 4, by Bellamy Road
1st Dam: Rule One, by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Compete, by El Prado (Ire)
3rd Dam: Pete's Heiress, by Peteski
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN.
($150,000 Ylg '14 SARAUG; $210,000 3yo '16 KEENOV).
O-Lauren & Ralph M. Evans; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D.
Fielding (NY); T-Richard A. Violette, Jr.; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
$450,000. Lifetime Record: 10-7-2-0, $775,425. Werk Nick
Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”winstar-eligible-youre-a-winner”][bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”]2–Keen Ice, 126, h, 5, Curlin–Medomak, by Awesome Again.
($48,000 Wlg '12 KEENOV; $120,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP).
O-Donegal Racing & Calumet Farm; B-Glencrest Farm LLC (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher. $150,000.[bullet ad=”fourstar-salesgrad”][bullet ad=”performance-genetics-selection”][bullet ad=”schumer-dam-purchased”]3–Pavel, 122, c, 3, Creative Cause–Mons Venus, by Maria's
Mon. 'TDN Rising Star' ($90,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV; $80,000
RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Brereton C.
Jones & WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $75,000.[bullet ad=”winstar-bred”][bullet ad=”hidden-brook-sales-graduate”]Margins: 1, 3 1/4, 5 3/4. Odds: 3.90, 1.35, 4.40.
Also Ran: Good Samaritan, Destin, Rally Cry, Highland Sky.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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