October 28, 2015
A maiden winner at first asking but discarded as a 30-1 longshot in the Maid Of The Mist, Laffin Diplomat closed with a rush in the final furlong to remain undefeated in two starts and prove that owner D J C Racing Stables is one of the better owners at getting a horse ready for a big effort. Out of Grade I winner Diplomatic Immunity, from a stakes winning mare, she was a going-away winner at FL on debut and used a quick turn of foot late to score the upset win here while adding a solid $150.000 to her bankroll in the process.
After the opening furlong of the Maid Of The Mist, every one of the six fillies was within a length of the lead and it was not until almost two-furlongs through that Ironboundlass (*1.95) took a sizable lead from Laffin Diplomat (31.85) in midpack. As the leader swung down to the fence through the first split of 23.39, Lady Is A Tramp (2.25) ended up being caught three-wide with Sold Out (10.10) tracking her and as the outside runners came up to engage, Laffin Diplomat actually dropped back to fifth. The two frontrunners battled into the far turn through a half-mile in 47.05 as Stellar (4.60) came through rivals with an outside thrust, leaving room for Ironboundlass to drop back and forcing Sold Out wider than needed. Lady Is A Tramp found herself alone on the lead at the head of the lane, with six-furlongs up in a rapid 1:10.58, and while the early stalkers were stalling, Laffin Diplomat was resurgent and came through an opening into second. The leader looked a length clear with a furlong to run and still going strong but with powerful strides, Laffin Diplomat made up enough ground and as was the custom all day, pipped Lady Is A Tramp right on the wire to score by the slimmest of margins. Stellar and Distant Waters ended up a joint third while a length and a half back of the winner, with Sold Out wide in fifth and Ironboundlass a tiring sixth after breaking on top.
Laffin Diplomat was made the longest shot on the board in the Maid Of The Mist but became the fourth Empire Showcase winner for owner D J C Racing Stables, and by far the most rewarding after racing both the sire and the dam for much of their careers. The Grade II Demoiselle looks like a viable stepping stone for this filly, although keeping her in NY-bred company into 2016 might be another option, with plenty of money available for those proven at this level.
Congratulations goes out to owner D J C Racing Stables and their two-year-old filly Laffin Diplomat, winner by a whisker of the Maid Of The Mist at BEL!
Prediction Ironboundlass / Lady Is A Tramp / Sold Out
Winner Laffin Diplomat
Two-year-old black filly
Diplomatic Immunity-Laffin To The Moon
Owner D J C Racing Stables
Time 23.39, 47.05, 1:10.58, 1:35.39
Overall
Laffin Diplomat 31.85 fell back, between rivals, last gasp win
Lady Is A Tramp 2.25 pressed forward, clear late, caught
Stellar (DH) 4.60 raced inside, wide rally, joint third
Distant Waters (DH) 3.20 no threat early
Sold Out 10.10 pressed, weakened
Ironboundlass *1.95 set pace, faded
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
