Diversify 'doing great,' likely to bypass Whitney for Woodward
Trainer Rick Violette said Grade 2 Suburban winner Diversify has a "15 percent" chance to run in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on August 4 at Saratoga and will likely wait and continue to train up to the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on September 1.
"He's doing great. We're still very much on the fence for the Whitney," Violette said. "[It's] still more likely we skip and go to the Woodward."
As the field for the 1 1/8 mile Whitney takes shape, Violette remains versatile in his approach, but his short-term plan for the 5-year-old gelded son of Bellamy Road will be influenced by the ultimate goal of running in the Grade 1 Jockey Cup Gold Cup on September 29 at Belmont Park; a race Diversify won last year over Keen Ice and Pavel for his first career graded stakes victory.
Violette said initial reports on the Whitney field, which could include Pavel, Mind Your Biscuits and Tapwrit, makes the race interesting, but no definitive plans have been made.
"I still think most likely not. It's intriguing. So, if we did that [run in the Whitney], we'd wait and run in the Gold Cup and skip the Woodward. I'll go Woodward then Gold Cup, but if we ran in the Whitney, we'd skip the Woodward," Violette said.
The Ralph and Lauren Evans owned New York bred is awaiting his fourth start of the year after wiring the 10-horse field by 6 1/2 lengths in the Suburban at 1 ¼ miles on July 7, Stars & Stripes Day, at Belmont. That victory followed his win by a nose in the $200,000 Commentator against state breds at a mile at Belmont on May 28.
"He's doing pretty good," Violette said. "It's a funny thing, and I think they'll change the numbers, but the Ragozin numbers didn't come up that fast. [It] actually came up a slower race than the Commentator, which I think is ridiculous, to be honest. If he'd run a stupid-fast number, and was kicking the barn down, I'd be more reticent on taking a shot [in the Whitney] so, we'll play it by ear. I'll still go to sleep going to the Woodward."
Diversify's last two victories were a welcomed performance for the earner of $1,309,425 from 14 career starts after he abruptly faded to last against six competitors as the favorite in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on April 21.