Diplomat immune to pressure in rallying to win G1 New York Turf Writers Cup

by Brian Bohl

Flying Elvis Stable's Diplomat gained the lead in the flat-race portion of the race and steadied for a three-length victory in the 76th running of the Grade 1, $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup, the meet's premier steeplechase race, in the opener on Thursday's card at Saratoga Race Course.

Diplomat, carrying 138 pounds, stayed well off pacesetter Alcazar de Maram, who held the lead before All the Way Jose overtook him coming out of the eighth and penultimate hurdles. With the final three furlongs over flat turf, Modem and All the Way Jose dueled for supremacy before Diplomat, under jockey Bernard Dalton's drive, straightened away near the outside rail and took the lead in the final furlong, completing 2 3/8 miles in 4:29.90.

The 8-year-old son of Kitten's Joy, who finished third in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial last out on July 27 at the Spa, notched his first career Grade 1 win and the second graded stakes victory of his career. It was also the first New York Turf Writers Cup won by trainer Kate Dalton, who is married to the rider.

"We're very pleased. We were hemming and hawing about blinkers on, blinkers off, and finally Bernie and I decided on Monday that we should definitely take them off," Kate Dalton said. "It seemed like there was going to be a lot of pace in the race to run at and we were thinking that we wanted to sit him in a little bit more this time and try to come with a run. I guess it worked out."

Off at 17-1, Diplomat paid $37.40 on a $2 win bet in his first stakes win since the 2015 Grade 3 David L. Ferguson Memorial Hurdles at Great Meadow. He improved his career earnings to $349,720.

"It's great my wife trains the horse, I ride him most days at home," said Bernard Dalton, who also won this race with Italian Wedding in 2013. "He surprised me how easily he actually did it. He traveled all the way, I followed Modem through most of the race and at the top of the way when I pulled him out and asked him to go, he just quickened right up and came and won. The horse is all the run. I just steer."

Added Kate Dalton: "He's a really genuine horse. He's a lovely horse and he tries all the time as hard as he can, but he's not very big. He's had a lot of weight ups and downs so having 138 pounds on him today was a real advantage."

Modem, the 2-1 favorite for trainer Elizabeth Voss, earned runner-up honors for the second time in as many months at the Spa. After finishing two lengths behind Swansea Mile in the A.P. Smithwick, the 7-year-old English bred finished four lengths ahead of All the Way Jose.

Choral Society, Swansea Mile, Show Court, Mr. Hot Stuff, Casino Markets, Alcazar de Maram and Three Kingdoms completed the order of finish.

Colla Pier was scratched, as was Portrade, the winner of last year's New York Turf Writers Cup.