The Diarmida – GII
GP Race 13 1 3/8M – InTurf
Purse $200.000
Four Year Olds and Up

A group of eight turf routing specialists will be going to the post for this years running of the Diarmida here over the Gulfstream Park turf course. There was originally supposed to be nine but there has been one scratch from the field. Last years winner Techfluence is returning this year to defend his title.

1. By Design (15-4-2-3 $234.560), trained by Mb Stables

Here we are with our first runner and this horse here is a very versatile individual. He has stakes wins over the turf and dirt including a stakes win over this same turf course in late December. He didn’t run too great in the San Marcos last out but I think that was because of the off track. He is capable of winning but he will have to run big.

2. Barton Rovers (10-4-2-2 $240.550), trained by Maxmillion Farm

Another runner right here who has a stakes winner of the turf course and he got that win in the grade three McKnight Handicap over a soft turf course where he romped by five lengths. He will have to prove that his last race wasn’t a fluke in this one. If it rains he will be very tough to beat.

3. Expressly (18-7-1-1 $209.350), trained by Nakamura Stables

Now to be honest this is the horse that I am going to give the least chance to win because he just hasn’t been running good at all recently. He has four off the board finishes in a row so that is not a good sign at all. He is a graded stakes winner but he needs to show that type of effort to even have a chance.

4. Techfluence (35-12-6-7 $1966.890), trained by The Sidley Stud

Right here is the defending champion in the race and he is coming off of a title defense in the Conally BC Turf at Sam Houston. He went from that race to this race last year and I think he is set up to repeat win in here also. He is going to be my top pick in this race and I think he will defend his title.

5. Devilish Luck (13-5-4-1 $689.020), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Another graded stakes winner in the field here and this runner is entering this race off of a win in the Clockers Corner at Santa Anita going down the hill. He ran a bad twelfth in the Breeders Cup Turf last year. He is a talented horse but the question is if he can get the distance.

6. Taniwha (16-6-3-2 $1287.660), trained by Aml Racing

Well here we have a grade one winner and another participant in last years Breeders Cup Turf. He just ran third to Techfluence in the Conally BC Turf at Sam Houston in his last start. I think that he has the best chance out of all of them to upset the defending winner of the race.

7. Awesome Indeed (22-5-2-3 $430.080), trained by TwinTowers Racing

Scratched

8. Sound Decision (27-10-5-4 $308.380), trained by Gdp Inc

And another one that is coming out of the Conally BC Turf right here and this was the fourth place finisher that day. He was a closing fourth place finish that day and was gaining on the winner. He has an alright chance to upset this field but he will have needed to improve a good amount.

9. Lets Do It Big Boy (19-5-6-1 $1047.970), trained by RNP Stables

And last but certainly not least we come to the winner of the grade two Ft. Lauderdale and fourth place finisher in the Pegasus World Cup Turf. He ran a good fourth last time in the Pegasus but he will definitely need to run a bigger race to win here. He has a decent chance to do it though.

Summary

A very solid field right here for sure and a good group that is very even. I am going to go with Techfluence as my top pick because I think he is the classiest and best horse in this field. I think that he is going to be a repeat winner of the race. Good luck to all of the runners in the race.

4-6-9-2

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES