Diversify expected to 'run well fresh' in 2018 Charles Town Classic
Lauren and Ralph M. Evans’ Diversify leads a field of seven in quest to snare the winner’s share in Saturday's Grade 2, $1,200,000 Charles Town Classic. The Charles Town Classic is the marquee attraction on the track’s 13-race card that gets underway at 12:30pm ET, with the feature going off at 5:36 p.m. ET.
After beating up on New York-breds over the early portion of his career, Diversify made his step up into graded stakes company in the 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and showed that he would be a prominent player in the handicap division going forward, as he parlayed a front running trip into a victory over the likes of Keen Ice, Pavel and Good Samaritan. After finishing fourth in the Clark Handicap (G1) as the 1.40-to-1 favorite, Diversify was freshened and prepped for his 5-year-old season at trainer Rick Violette’s Florida base, the Palm Meadows training center.
“He’s doing super,” said Violette. “He’s shown that he’s run well fresh, and we’re looking forward to getting his five-year-old campaign kicked off in a big way.”
While his horse has shown a penchant for doing his best running on the lead, his conditioner doesn’t see it as a necessary part of the recipe for success come Saturday.
“He’s stalked and won before, and that was by design, so if someone wants to go crazy on the front end, they’re more than welcome," Violette said. "A lot of it will depend on post positions and the break. If he breaks like he does in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, he was in front by two in a couple of jumps. Last time in the Clark, he broke a beat slow and Irad [Ortiz Jr.] had to get after him a little bit early and that really had him keyed up. But the other thing is that he didn’t really like the track that night. Irad said he never really got a hold of it, so I thought all things considered he still ran pretty big that night. But I think it will be a rider’s race.”
Originally owned by WinStar Farm before being purchased by the Evans’ for $210,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Diversify will run in the Charles Town Classic for the first time.
“We’ve really been wanting to run here for a while now," Violette said. "I was going to run Samraat here, and we were actually prepping Diversify for this race last year in the Stymie, but when he didn’t run well that day we had to regroup and build his confidence back up, and things ended up working out for us. But it’s a great race that’s gotten some great horses, and it’s a great spot on the calendar.”
As for where Diversify could sit in the handicap division come Saturday and beyond, Violette is excited to find out.
“A lot is up to him," the trainer said. "If he reproduces his form from the end of his four-year-old year, it’ll be a lot of fun. You know you’re always crossing your fingers after giving a horse a little rest that the same horse shows up when he comes back. But he’s been very consistent for us, and we’re excited about this year.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr., aboard for Diversify’s last four starts once again has the call on the 8-to-5 morning line favorite.
$1,200,000 CHARLES TOWN CLASSIC (G2)
April 21, 2018
Race 11 – Post time 5:36 p.m. ET
4&up, 1 1/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Fear the Cowboy, Luis Negron, 118, Efren Loza, Jr.
2. You’re to Blame, Joe Bravo, 118, Todd A. Pletcher
3. Discreet Lover, J.D. Acosta, 120, Uriah St. Lewis
4. Something Awesome, Edgar S. Prado, 120, Jose Corrales
5. War Story, Javier Castellano, 118, Jorge Navarro
6. Diversify, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 118, Richard A. Violette
7. Afleet Willy, Jomar Torres, 118, Claudio A. Gonzalez