The Diarmida (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and Three Eighths on the Inner Turf
March 2, 2024

A field of eleven got together at GP to contest the Grade 2 Diarmida, and it seemed to be a pretty wide-open race. Among those taking part was a horse that had recently been sold in private sales, as Life Is Beautiful was purchased by Riggins Racing for $230.000 and running for him for the first time. Safe to say that the trainer is pleased with the result, as Life Is Beautiful earned the win, which is his third in a row. It is the first win in the race for both Riggins Racing and jockey S X Bridgmohan. Congratulations to them! The time of the race was 2:10.99, and that is a new stake record. I also noticed that I failed to make predictions for this race. Sorry about that! By the title of the preview, you could probably assume that my intention was to pick King Z. Here’s a look at the race:

(½ Mile- :47.64)- The race begins with most of the field running in pairs. In row one up front, King Z leads by a neck for Mb Stables over The Sidley Stud’s Ned Influence. There is an approximate two length gap to the next two horses, and that is where we find our eventual winner from Riggins Racing, Life Is Beautiful. TwinTowersRacing’s Dark Arts is within a half-length of him. In the middle of the field is the only horse that doesn’t have an early dancing partner, that being Bigmikesbluedress, also from TwinTowersRacing. Must’ve been the dress. Ptyrannical (Arindel) and Wayward Prince (Angelos Stable) are a length behind him, then comes One Eyed Man (Fractious) and Key To The Sunset (Invincta Group Llc). Trailing are Zwiesel (Jokerjoes) and Gallant (Royalty Stables).

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.45)- Not much has changed over this portion of the race, as the field still runs in the same general alignment. King Z still holds his half length lead on Neds Influence, with there being a two-length gap to the next pair of horses. That’s still where we find Life Is Beautiful, who maintained his third position over Dark Arts. Bigmikesbluedress is still by himself, with the rest of the field lined up as they were before.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- On the surface, it may not have seemed like much had happened in the backstretch, either, but this is where we see Life Is Beautiful start to look like a bigger threat. He’s put away Dark Arts for third, and has closed in on the two pace setters, before even entering the turn. Midway into the turn, Life Is Beautiful would make a three wide move. Entering the stretch, Neds Influence had taken the top spot from King Z, but both still seemed to be running well. Life Is Beautiful, however, was now only a length back. Deeper in the field, the rest of the pack was tightening up, and we’d have to wait and see if any new contenders would come from there.

(Finish- 2:10.99)- In the final furlong, Life Is Beautiful had made his pass from the lead, and there was no one coming from behind that he needed to worry about. The win was his, and what a successful debut for him in the silks of Riggins Racing! Neds Influence was barely within a length, and it’s another length back to the third place King Z, who prevailed in a photo over the late running Gallant. Wayward Prince was next, then One Eyed Man and Bigmikesbluedress. It’s two lengths back to the rest of the field, beginning with Ptyrannical, over Dark Arts, Zwiesel, and Key To The Sunset.

About The Winner- Life Is Beautiful, trained by Riggins Racing and ridden to victory by S X Bridgmohan, is a five-year-old gelding by Con Artist and is out of the late Wayn. He was bred as a yearling by Smokey Stover, and was acquired by Riggins Racing, via Luz International, for $230.000 just about two weeks ago. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his eighth in 20 starts, and his second stake win, each of which are graded. His career earnings are now $453.880.

Track: Firm
Time: :47³  1:11²  1:35¹  2:10⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 5 Paid 101.10
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 5 – 6 Paid 728.40

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES