The Diarmida (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and Three Eighths on the Inner Turf
February 27, 2021
While the focal point of the action on Saturday at GP is the Fountain Of Youth, we will be in for a treat here in The Diarmida as the reigning Horse Of The Year, Iron Nation, returns to the track as he looks to avenge his showing in the Pegasus World Cup Turf here last month. He’ll meet a few of those again as he hopes to remind them that he is the defending BC Mile champion. The other ten will be looking for a different ending to this race, and we will also see the 2020 Diarmida winner, Raj Action Packed, look to defend his crown. This race has actually seen two horses previously win in back to back years: Bronze Sabre (2010 and 2011) and Techfluence (2018 and 2019). Let’s meet the field!
#1- Workload (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- From the rail, this No Doubt About It colt will be looking to turn his form around from the prior two races. Since finishing second in the Pattison last October, Workload has not hit the board. The BC Turf can be forgiven, but finishing fifth, missing by four lengths in the San Marcos is something that he needs to bounce back from. Not an easy one to pick until he does.
#2- Long Term Deal (Arindel, ridden by G Saez)- On two weeks rest, Long Term Deal finished second here in a starter allowance after winning a regular allowance. His third race in five weeks will be his stake debut of any type. Arindel is not afraid to keep putting horses out there, but for a horse that as recently as December ran for a $6.250 claiming tag to do beat the likes of Iron Nation is a tough ask.
#3- Iron Nation (Nakamura Stables, ridden by V R Carrasco)- Here is the reigning Horse of the Year, and he will be hitting the track for the first time since officially being given that honor. His 2020 saw five wins in eight starts, including an impressive three race stretch that featured the SAR Derby and WO Mile before taking the BC Mile. 2021 did not start as well for him, as he pulled a complete no show, running 11th in the Pegasus World Cup Turf. For a horse like this, we can forgive that and only worry if it happens again. Iron Nation is the class of this field if he is at his best.
#4- Hammerfest (Smokey Stover, ridden by J R Velazquez)- When Iron Nation won the WO Mile, the horse that finished second to him, and missed by a half length was Hammerfest. This gelding would run second again in his next race, the BC Turf. Smokey Stover will be hoping for that kind of an effort again. While Iron Nation was at the Pegasus World Cup Turf, though, Hammerfest raced both the week before and the week after in smaller stakes instead.
#5- Raj Action Packed (Arindel, ridden by D Davis)- Last year, this gelding won the Diarmida, so now at the ripe age of eight, he will be looking to duplicate that performance. It was not easy for him after winning here, with only a couple in the money finishes until his last start. In the McKnight Stakes here last month, Raj Action Packed finally won again. Now, we will see if career start #50 can lead to another win.
#6- Stallsome (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by L Saez)- With wins in three of his last five starts, and third place finishes in his other two, Stallsome is on the best form of his career. His last race, a win in the Connally BC Turf, saw him earn a 100 SRF for the first time. Not bad for a six year old, but we should never be surprised to see this trainer turn out turf stars.
#7- Wired Up (Rampage Stable, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- Beat Iron Nation in the Pegasus World Cup Turf last month, finishing fifth in a dead heat with Chayse (we’ll get to him later). So, can Wired Up beat that rival again, and finish on top in this one? He had won his two races before that, and earned a 100 SRF in the Grade 3 Smith at AQU in November. If he stays on this form, then he could have a pretty good shot, but there can be no room for error.
#8- So Lonely (Diablo Diablo, ridden by J Bravo)- The five year old will be making the 25th start of his career, and looking for win number seven. Since his last win, in April, he has been very inconsistent, with a stretch in the fall that was quite poor. At times, he can have a big run, but it has been a year since he last put two good races in a row together, and he comes off one of those good runs. On the flip side, maybe he likes racing in winter.
#9- World In Changes (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by P Lopez)- We last saw this horse on the first of November, and he was good then in winning the $75.000 Let It Ride. It would be his third win in four starts, but he has not made it back out to the track since. So, will the layoff of nearly four months be a big issue for him, or will the fact that he is plenty rested be a good thing?
#10- Better Back Off (BomBay Stables, ridden by C J Lanerie)- Since finishing second in an allowance at DMR in August, this horse has not done much to be excited about. Most recently, he was seventh in the McKnight, and he’d have to find a way to beat the horse that beat him there in this one, and that horse, by the way, is not the favorite here even if he does.
#11- Chayse (Crocker Ggs, ridden by A Beschizza)- Started off 2020 very well, winning the Grade 2 Pan American before running second in the Grade 1 Man O War. Then, like a switch, it all went downhill. He has not hit the board since, and has not been any better than fifth since. The Pegasus World Cup Turf was the first time that he was within three lengths since then. To the credit of the trainer, he has never backed down from entering Chayse in some of the best races that the game has to offer. He’s a closer, but lately, he has not been closing. You have to wonder if that might be changed up at some point.
Prediction: 3-6-4-9
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
