The Diarmida (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and Three Eighths on the Turf
March 3, 2018

Techfluence continues to be one of the best active horses in the game right now as he picks up another victory this weekend, coming right here in the Diarminda. He has now won five of his last seven starts and appears to be in the best condition that he ever has been during his career. Other trainers brought some talented competition to the race, including the veteran race mare, Volare, and while she ran well, she could not handle Techfluence here. The proud winning trainer is The Sidley Stud, who wins the race for the first time in their career, and that holds true for jockey J R Velazquez as well. Congratulations! The time of the victory was 2:11.35, tying the second quickest in the history of the stake, and he is behind only the great Bronze Sabre in that category. Nothing wrong with that! Here’s a break down of the race.

(½ Mile- :48.10)- Deep Down broke sharply out of the gate for Jkk Racing Stables from one of the outside posts, and First Rebellion (Hambletonian Stable) would fight with him a little bit for backing into a stalking position. The first time they hit the wire, Deep Down led by a length over Nile Broom, from Drabfantasy, who also broke well. Then it was First Rebellion, and your eventual race winner, Techfluence, running fourth while on the rail and trailing by a length and a half. You then have to go back two lengths to find a threesome running side by side, as Blue Eight (Blushing Meadows) was on the inside of City Ball Drop (Pan Farms) and Speeding Zeus (Maxmillion Farm) on the outside. There’s another gap of three to the rest of the field, with Justin Credible (Maxmillion Farm), ahead of Volare (Axeman), The Laffin Sniper (Diablo Diablo), and No Glaring At Me (Black N Gold Stable).

(Six Furlongs- 1:11.88)- Rounding the clubhouse turn and moving into the backstretch, Deep Down continues to lead the field. However his lead begins to shrink, and Techfluence begins to reel him and begins making the pass midway into the backstretch. Nile Broom backed off a length or so while First Rebellion continued to stay in the shadows of Deep Down on the backstretch. Behind them, Speeding Zeus had left Blue Eight and City Ball Drop behind but still had three and a half lengths to make up. From the back, Volare was starting to signal her intentions of a forward move, taking the third lane, which would be clear until she got right up on the frontrunners. Others were not showing much yet.

(Top of Stretch- 1.5F To Go)- Techfluence took over the lead in the backstretch, and looked to pull away from the field. Deep Down had nothing left when Techfluence went by and quickly dropped out of the picture. Nile Broom had a terrible backstretch trip, and now already found himself near the back of the field. Even First Rebellion was two lengths bach, although he was the clear second at this point. A move from Speeding Zeus that seemed to be coming nver materialized, but Volare was in good stride and moving forward. Though five lengths behind Techfluence at this point was too much, even for her. Justin Credible looked to follow her along, and was keeping pace and seemed poised to pick off some positions, even if it was too late to challenge for the win. The rest of the field continued to linger in the back.

(Finish- 2:11.35)- It was that easy for Techfluence. With no one making a run behind him, all we needed to do in the stretch is enjoy watching a champion dominate a race, as he wins by almost two. First Rebellion was about as runaway of a second place finisher as Techfluence was a winner. Hambletonian should be happy with how he soundly beat others in this field. Volare’s run got her up for third, with Speeing Zeus holding off stablemate Justin Credible for the fourth spot. Deep Down only faded to 6th. With very flat and disappointing runs would be No Glaring At Me, The Laffin Sniper, Blue Eight, Nile Broom, and City Ball Drop.

About The Winner: Techfluence, trained by The Sidley Stud and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a five year old horse by Techno, and out of Bad Influence. He was bred in Texas as a first quarter two year old by The Sidley Stud, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his ninth in 27 starts, his eighth stake win, and seventh graded win. His career earnings are now $1,238.890.

Track: Firm
Time: :48   1:11⁴  1:35²  2:11¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 8 Paid 62.40
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 8 – 7 Paid 672.70

Winner picked by NS

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES