The Diarmida (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and Three Eighths on the Inner Turf
March 4, 2017
It’s not only the three year olds in the spotlight on this great day of racing at GP. The older horses get their chance as well, and one of those opportunities is the 13th running of the Diarmida, a Grade 2 race for those who like to run forever on the grass. It is a race that has seen the legendary Bronze Sabre do his thing in back to back years in winning the 2010 and 2011 editions of the race. Other then Bronze Sabre, though, the past winners list isn’t quite as awe inspiring as Bald And Beautiful is the only other on it that has won more then $1,000.000 in his career. There is one that is close to that milestone, and he will be back in this field. Mean Street is on the cusp of $1,000.000, and looks to duplicate what only Bronze Sabre has done and win this race in back to back years. I do like his chances to do that, but there are ten in this field who are looking to spoil that bid. It’s a great race of some of the top turf horses in the business right now, so don’t miss it while you await the Fountain Of Youth! Here’s the field!
#1- Tundra Kenny (John Henry, ridden by F Pennington)- After winning the BC Turf in 2015, Tundra Kenny failed to win a race all of last year, and was only second once. This even included a couple open allowances, though he remained primarily at the graded level. Despite the struggle, he rode the Australia Wide to John Henry express in November for a surprising $200.000, given his struggles. The first race this year saw him not be a factor in the Grade 2 San Gabriel. You can never count anyone out in our virtual world, but I will pass.
#2- Hulk Hogan (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by E Maldonado)- Ran wild on the field in the early moments of the Connally BC Turf at HOU in his last start, serving as a rabbit for Exactly As Planned. With that one in this field again, it’s kinda hard to think that this race will be any different. The strategy worked with one exception, that being Gila Bend also liked having a rabbit in the field that day.
#3- Spotted Cat (Blushing Meadows, ridden by R Bejarano)- One of two that come out of the McKnight Handicap, which was run here about five weeks ago. Spotted Cat ran second that day, prevailing in a photo over Mean Street. That result could be the positive jolt that his career needed, because he was going into the race with a couple of tough result, although one of them was the BC Turf. He’s a closer, so he certainly doesn’t mind if Hulk Hogan is out there setting a quick pace. May set up nicely for him here.
#4- Mean Street (Nakamura Stables, ridden by L Saez)- He was the 2016 winner of this race, and gets a chance to pull off the double, something that only Bronze Sabre has been able to do, and that would be great company for him. This seven year old remained in good form even after that win, and pick up a win a month later in the Elkhorn, and during the summer at SAR in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap. He’s still running well into this season, and is coming off a third place run in the McKnight Handicap, and effort that earned him a 102 SRF. Now, he could be vulnerable to Hulk Hogan if that one is a rabbit again. Mean Street has a good shot to repeat, though he is not my pick.
#5- Carnival O Wow (Oval Express Farms, ridden by L H Colon)- Provided plenty of amusement for his trainer in his last four races of 2016, winning three of them. It included an HRP-rout of a victory in the $130.000 OK Classics Turf in October before winning his graded debut in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap out at DMR. With everything looking up, he fired a dud in his first race of this year, and you have to wonder if the 125 lbs he carried that day, after 118 in the Seabiscuit played a big role with him. He sees a few familiar faces here, and the weight is similar. So, whether or not you pick him should greatly depend on how much of a factor you think the 11th place San Gabriel Stakes was for him. If you want to throw it out, then he’s just as good as anyone else here.
#6- Exactly As Planned (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J R Velazquez)- While Hulk Hogan did his part, Exactly As Planned could only be second in the Connally, but he won’t see Gila Bend in his field. Though as someone who covered the Connally, it has to be noted that Gila Bend had an absolute perfect rail trip. It was a great close from Exactly As Planned, and I expect to see more of the same from him here. This field is a little stronger, and the Gila Bend of this race is likely Spotted Cat, as that one will also like having the rabbit up there. What I do really like about him that’s different here is the rider change to J R Velazquez. This time, I think it will go exactly as planned, if it is indeed the plan, for the trainer.
#7- Moms Guy (Four Winds Racing, ridden by J J Castellano)- The six year old gelding ran jsut five times in 2016, but did pick up three wins. Two of them were open allowance, but he did triumph in the Grade 3 AP Handicap. Those races were with Yahudi Stables, and Moms Guy would be acquired by Four Winds in the December auction for $50.020. Their first race together resulted in a second place finish in a GG open allowance. A strong 99 SRF was recorded that day. If he brings his best, then he could pull it off, though I see more of a midpack runner that may also be vulnerable to Hulk Hogan’s possible rabbit plans.
#8- Sinissippi Eagle (Eastern Equine, ridden by R J Albarado)- It will be the 30th career start for this six year old, and his first of 2017. He was able to close out 2016 with an open allowance win at GG in December which became the first win for the trainer since buying him in private sales last spring. Prior to that it had been some competitive finishes for the veteran, though likely frustrating for the trainer at the same time as he wasn’t earning a check in three of them. He’s had almost three months to rest for this.
#9- Tucson (Aer Stables, ridden by J R Leparoux)- Those thirty starts for Sinissippi Eagle are nothing compared to Tucson, who makes his 55th. The eight year old had the best year of his career last year, putting him just a few bucks shy of $1,300.000 in career earnings. His debut this year was in the Connally, where he ran fourth, and I can see this race going much like that one if not for a tactical adjustment. Tucson ran midpack much of the way in that race behind the fast pace set by Hulk Hogan, and while he was fine in the stretch, the closers behind him were all over him in the stretch. With Exactly As Planned here again, plus Spotted Cat, the potential is there again.
#10- My Little Monster (Oquinn Farm, ridden by M E Smith)- This Proud Chat colt has been very consistent in his ability to hit the board, but he has never seen what he is going to up against today. He has one smaller ungraded stake on his resume, running second, and has spent much of his career trying to win his second race against N1X company. He finally did that in his last start. A positive is that he does seem to like going longer, but when you stack him against the likes of Exactly As Planned, it looks like a tough task here.
#11- Pink Devil (Night Mare Racing, ridden by J Bravo)- Coming from the outside will be this five year old gelding who seems to like finishing second more then he likes winning. 10 of his 27 career starts, including three of his last four, have been a runner up but at least the other one in that stretch was a win! He’s a spoiler here. Two of his last three last three races have earned triple digit SRF figures, so the ability is there. What I like, and I know I have sworn off trying to predict pace in our game, is that while he is a closer, he may be positioned for the stretch run a little better then Exactly As Planned and Spotted Cat and be a difficult pass for those two late in the race. Unfortunately, it’s post 11 for him. I’d pick him if he was on the inside. His start is crucial.
Prediction: 6-3-9-11
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
