Grade 1 winner Diversify 'showed he's ready' for Suburban Handicap

Ralph M. and Lauren Evans' Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Diversify breezed a bullet four furlongs over Belmont's main track Saturday morning in his final move ahead of next weekend's Grade 2, $700,000 Suburban Handicap at 1 ¼ miles.

The New York-bred gelding by Bellamy Road completed the half-mile work in 46.85 seconds, the fastest of 60 at the distance, and galloped out five furlongs in 58 4/5 seconds, according to NYRA clockers.

"It was maybe a shade faster than we wanted, but things aren't always perfect," said trainer Rick Violette, Jr. "He just showed he's ready, that's all. He likes to breeze fast, so he was showing off this morning."

Saturday's race will mark Diversify's return to graded stakes company following a rebounding victory against state-breds in the Commentator on May 28. Prior to that, he finished last of seven as the heavy favorite in his 5-year-old debut, beaten 26 lengths in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on April 21. 

"The Charles Town race is a throw out," said Violette. "He just pulled up after two turns and there was another turn left. He came out of the Commentator great and it's a nice few weeks between that and the Suburban and there's not much I'd do differently with him if anything. He's doing terrific."

He added that Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Diversify, who boasts eight wins and two seconds from 13 starts for total earnings of $934,245.

"He'll charge his batteries this week and then we're taking on all comers," Violette said of Diversify. "He's shown he can do it and he's coming off a really good prep. He is speedy and he touted himself again today. We're really excited to run."