Oct 7, 2017
Coglianese Photo
New York-bred Diversify holds off Keen Ice in G1 debut to win Jockey Club Gold Cup
by Heather Pettinger
Ralph M. and Lauren Evans' New York-bred Diversify made his graded stakes debut a winning one, holding off the 6-5 favorite Keen Ice and up-and-coming sophomore Pavel to punch his ticket to the Breeders' Cup Classic with a one-length win in the 99th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday at Belmont Park.
The 4-year-old gelding by Bellamy Road stayed true to his front-running style, taking the field of seven on an uncontested lead through an opening quarter-mile in 24.17 seconds and a half-mile in 47.74 with Grade 3 Smarty Jones winner Pavel, making his fourth career start, and Rally Cry stalking from two lengths behind. Highland Sky and 2016 Belmont Stakes winner Destin comprised the middle of the pack, three lengths ahead of early trailers Keen Ice and Good Samaritan.
Diversify, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, still held the advantage through six furlongs in 1:11.42 as Keen Ice and Good Samaritan began to move from the back of the pack. Keen Ice advanced in the final turn while Pavel made an outside bid turning for home, but neither could catch Diversify, who finished a length ahead of Keen Ice. Pavel was another three-quarters of a length behind in third. It was another 5 ¾ lengths back to Good Samaritan in fourth. Destin, Rally Cry and Highland Sky rounded out the order of finish.
"He's a good horse and he's improving," said Ortiz, who won his fourth race on the day's card, including stakes victories with Disco Partner in the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational and Firenze Fire in the Grade 1 Champagne. "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."
Diversify, exiting an eye-catching 11 ¼-length win in the Evan Shipman for state-breds on August 21 at Saratoga Race Couse, was sent off as the 7-2 second choice and returned $9.80 for a $2 win wager. He stopped the clock in 2:00.96 for 1 ¼ miles to earn his third straight stakes win and give trainer Rick Violette, Jr. his first Jockey Club Gold Cup victory.
As a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifier, the win awarded Diversify the $450,000 winner's share of the Jockey Club Gold Cup purse, as well as an all-fees-paid berth into the Classic on November 4 at Del Mar. He boosted his lifetime record to seven wins and two seconds from 10 starts with total earnings of $775,425.
"We couldn't have dreamed of a better scenario," said Violette. "The first quarter, going in 24 [seconds] 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. He [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 was to ride him like he rode him in Saratoga."
Violette added that he and the owners don't plan to rush the decision on whether to join the field for the Classic.
"We're going to enjoy today's race and give it a couple of days," he said. "I talk it over with Lauren Evans and Ralph Evans and we'll come up with a decision next week."
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