Chelsea Durand Photo

Diversify scores first stakes win in Saginaw

by Najja Thompson

Leaving the gate as the 4-5 favorite, Ralph and Laura Evans' Diversify improved his record at Belmont Park to three wins from five starts, picking up his first stakes win in capturing the $100,000 Saginaw for New York-breds on Sunday.

Diversify with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, sat in second position as Fox Rules led the field of seven through fractions of 23.12 seconds for the opening quarter-mile with the half going in 45.86.

As the field reached the quarter-pole, Diversify shifted to the three path and hooked up with the leader at the top of the stretch. Set down in an all out drive, Diversify kicked clear of Fox Rules and extended away from a late closing Papa Shot to win by 2 ¾ lengths.

The 1 1/16 miles was completed in a final time of 1:43.76

"He's a nice New York-bred and against this company, he can do it," said Ortiz. "I tried to relax him and he was going comfortably, once he was in the clear, I let him do his thing. He kept going. He's the type of horse where it doesn't look like he's running, but he is. He's a fighter." 

Returning $3.70 for a $2 win wager, the 4-year-old son of Bellamy Road boosted his career earnings to $265,425 with the victory.

"I thought it was a pretty cool race. Once again, he allowed the rider to ride him," said winning trainer Rick Violette. "He took a hold of him and let the speed show in front of him. He tipped him outside and then settled. Irad thought he might've moved a little early, but he didn't want to give everyone behind him a break, either."

"We needed to try [rating the speed]", he added. "It helps so much even when there's nuisance speed in the race, if you don't have to be on the lead and have that pressure. It makes him a really, really nice horse. We might even experiment on the grass."

Following Papa Shot in second was Gypsum Johnny, Fox Rules, Hit It Once More, Samraat. Inside Straight, who refused to leave the gate at the start, did not finish.