Gulfstream: Dashman, Cash Equity get a rematch in Mac Diarmida

Dashman and Cash Equity, separated by a nose when first and second, respectively, in the Grade 3 William L. McKnight last month, will square off for the second time in five weeks in Saturday’s $215,000 Mac Diarmida (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The 29th running of the Mac Diarmida for 4-year-olds and up is scheduled for 1 3/8 miles on the grass.

Dashman kicked off his 4-year-old season with a determined victory in the 1 1/2-mile McKnight on Jan. 25 on the undercard of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1). It was just the eighth start for the Oscar Performance colt, who ran second by less than a length in a December 2023 maiden special weight in his other try at Gulfstream.

“We’re thrilled with him,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “First start as a 4-year-old against older horses in a graded stake last time and gets it done. It was a very, very good effort. He gets a little cutback in distance this time which I’m sure he’s going to appreciate. He’s definitely going in the right direction. We’re very excited about the year ahead for him.”

Dashman has been third or better in five of his eight starts, three of them wins, and was beaten less than two lengths when fourth in the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G3) last fall on the Aqueduct turf, his stakes debut and only prior try at the distance. Luis Saez rides from outermost post 12.

“It’s a mile and three-eighths and he’s got good tactical speed early, so he’ll be able to get himself in a good position,” Lynch said. “Please God he stays healthy and we should be in good shape.”

Lynch also entered Grade 3 winner Anglophile, similarly exiting the McKnight where he ran an even 10th, beaten five lengths, in his first start since the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (G2) in early September.

“He needed his last race coming off the bench there,” Lynch said. “He wasn’t beaten far at all, and I think there’s a lot of improvement in him.”

Anglophile has banked $890,352 in purse earnings from 18 starts, second-most in the field behind $2 million earner Grand Sonata, with three wins, a second and four thirds. Since earning graded credentials in the 1 5/16-mile Dueling Grounds Derby (G3) in 2023, his last win, the 5-year-old son of champion English Channel has placed twice in nine starts, all in stakes.

“He’s a horse that, with a little bit of luck in his running lines, you can see where he’s got himself in some trouble there only to be beaten short margins,” Lynch said. “He’s run some very good races against some very good horses. He’s due to have a breakthrough race. I think he needed his last race and has really trained on well, so fingers crossed he shows up.”

Cash Equity came flying late in the McKnight but saw his winless streak reach 15 races dating to June 2023. In that time the 7-year-old French-bred gelding has placed nine times, five of them in stakes, including a second in the 2024 Mint Millions (G3) and 2023 Del Mar Handicap (G2).

“He’s earned a lot of checks, so I love the horse. He’s been a little unfortunate in some situations,” championship meet leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “Last time he was traveling so well and (jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.) couldn’t get him out at the right time and he lost a little momentum. He’s a horse that pauses so when Irad got him out, he paused, and that cost him.”

With Ortiz committed aboard Grand Sonata, Edgard Zayas will ride Cash Equity from post 5. Cash Equity cuts back for the Mac Diarmida, a distance he’s tried once previously in the Del Mar Handicap.

“He’s a horse that tries,” Joseph said. “We stretched him out last time a mile and a half and that was unknown. We didn’t know if he’d go a mile and a half but he handled it well, and that gave us a lot of confidence to come back in this race. I feel better at a mile and three-eighths. I thought he’d go a mile and a quarter. A mile and a half was a question mark. I think a mile and three-eighths is perfect.”

Grand Sonata and Capture the Flag, bred and owned by Joseph Allen, will line up for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Grand Sonata, 6, won the 2022 Kitten’s Joy (G3) at Gulfstream and 2024 Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (G2) and exits a late-running eighth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), beaten four lengths. Capture the Flag, 5, will be trying stakes company for the first time having run third or better in six of 10 career starts.

Missed the Cut is a Grade 3 winner at both 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 miles who will make his first start since running ninth in the 1 1/2-mile Hardwicke (G2) last June at Royal Ascot. In his last North American start, the 6-year-old was second in last spring’s Elkhorn (G2) at Keeneland.

Kalik, winner of the 2023 Pennine Ridge (G2); 2024 Louisville (G3) winner Sugoi, who captured the Jan. 25 John Connally last time out; Grade 1-placed Cathkin Peak, winner of the 1 5/8-mile John’s Call last summer at Saratoga; multiple stakes-placed Prevent; Be Like Clint and Parchment Party also are entered.