Updated: Diversify to enter Saratoga's Whitney 2018

Updated: The New York Racing Association announced Tuesday that Diversify will be entered in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes. The post position draw is set for 6 p.m.

Violette added that the final decision on the 1 1/8-mile Whitney will be made Tuesday before entries are due as the connections await the results of bloodwork that was taken on Monday, a normal part of the 5-year-old Bellamy Road gelding's routine.

"He came out of it good and we took blood this morning, so we'll know more tomorrow," said Violette. "It's pretty critical with him, his blood; it goes up and down. With him, we're pretty much on top of it. His blood can crash as a gelding. That might make my decision easy if it isn't absolutely wonderful."

Diversify's 59.06-second breeze was the fastest of 48 at the distance and his first work following an impressive 6 ½-length victory in the Grade 2 Suburban at 1 ¼ miles on July 7, where he earned a career-best 110 Beyer Speed Figure.

Should Diversify run next weekend, the Whitney could present a much-anticipated match-up of New York-breds with reigning New York-bred Horse of the Year Mind Your Biscuits, second in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap last time out for trainer Chad Summers and on target to try two turns for the first time.

"There's some nice horses, one speed horse [with] Dalmore, and obviously, Chad's horse is a very good horse and if he gets two turns, he's very dangerous," Violette said. "But, you're not supposed to shy away from a horse that's doing something they've never done before, and we're pretty good. If we run, we'll be tough. We're supposed to be tough."

Violette reiterated that he can always go back to Plan A with Diversify and wait for the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on September 1, also at 1 1/8 miles, if they felt the gelding needed more time after the Suburban.

"It still weighs on you, the big effort four weeks ago," he added. "It's a little tight. You try not to overthink it, but you don't want to be stupid either. If he bounces, you wonder why you did that. [The Woodward] was the original plan and it was the original plan for really valid reasons, so if you detour, you want to make sure you're right.

"With the way he breezed yesterday especially, [fitness] isn't an issue," he continued. "He's coming off a mile and a quarter, [he's had] two races in eight weeks. Fitness isn't an issue, it's just making sure he's not running back too quickly."