11 GP The Diarmida (GII)
$200.000 4yo&Up 1 3/8m InTurf 124lbs +penalties
Close finishes were the name of the game at GP on Saturday and we got another one in The Diarmida (GII) as the Arindel trailed Raj Action Packed held off Winter Solstice for the win. Dead Madness was third, with both the second and third place finishers being conditioned by John Henry.
The eleven combatants got away from the gate in this turf route with Controlled Power on the lead and a cavalry charge chasing that one consisting of Decision In Five, Techfluence, Raj Action Packed, Dead Maddness from the rail and Taniwha. A gap of two back to Winter Solstice, Arkenstone just off of that one, Trouville next to him, Lets Do It Big Boy from the outside and Momentus was the early trailer.
Around the far turn and under the wire the first time by, they had seven furlongs to travel and Controlled Power had a neck in front of Techfluence. Three lengths back to Decision In Five, Raj Action Packed between hoses, Dead Madness on the rail. Another two lengths back to Taniwha, three lengths back came Trouville, Winder Solstice next
to that one, Arkenstone, Let’s Do It Big Boy and Momentus continued to be at the rear.
Around the clubhouse turn and onto the back stretch with four and a half furlongs to run, Controlled Power by a half length but Techfluence continued to track that one. Three back to Raj Action Packed still between Dead Madness from the inside and Decision In Five from his outside. Taniwha in behind that group, another gap to Winter
Solstice, Trouville, Lets Do It Big Boy in between, Momentus wide and Arkenstone drifted back to trail.
Down the backside and through the far turn, they were now nearing the top of the lane and past the three-sixteenths marker, it was beginning to tighten up a bit as Controller Power still showed the way by a length. Techfluence still applying pressure as Dead Madness needled up between that pair, Raj Action Packed four wide and moving into
contention. Anot her wall of four behind that group with Winter Solstice widest of all, Let’s Do It Big Boy, Taniwha and Decision In Five. Momentus was next, Trouville and Arkenstone.
Deep stretch and to the finish, they were fanned out with plenty of running room and it was a matter of who wanted it most. Raj Action Packed to the front, Controlled Power still battling on, Dead Madness, Winter Solstice from the far outside and Techfluence… but as they hit the wire, it was Raj Action Packed narrowly holding off Winter Solstice
for the win. Dead Madness grabbed the third spot from a game Controlled Power. Taniwha was fifth, Techfluence in sixth, Lets Do It Big Boy in seventh, Momentus in eighth, Trouville ninth, Decision In Five tenth and Arkenstone was a disappointing eleventh.
Raj Action Packed is a 7yo gelded son of Iron Chito – Black Heart, by Kimbo Slice and he was bred in NY by Night Rider Stables. This was the tenth win for the old boy, and obviously he is showing no signs of wanted to head off to Old Friends just yet. Now with $1,906.540 in earnings and showing twenty-eight on-the-board finishes, goodness knows he’s earned a retirement spot when he does decide to hang his aluminum plates up… but it doesn’t look like that will be any time soon.
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 3 – Raj Action Packed | 24.80 | 12.80 | 5.10 |
| 5 – Winter Solstice | 5.30 | 27.10 | |
| 1 – Dead Madness | 3.70 |
Track: Firm Time: :464 1:102 1:342 2:113
$1 Exacta: 3 – 5 Paid 161.50 $1 Trifecta: 3 – 5 – 1 Paid 944.30
Scratched: None
Raj Action Packed raced in behind the early pace, steady gain to hit the front end mid-stretch, game to the finish holding off the challenge late. Winter Solstice was taken back early, responded when asked into the stretch, late battle to the finish, narrow loss. Dead Madness tracked the pace throughout, responded but could not go with the top pair. Controlled Power away well to lead, under pressure throughout, could not go on late. Taniwha mid-pack, no threat to the top flight. Techfluence pressed the pace, tired late. Lets Do It Big Boy taken in hand well off of the pace, some late foot. Momentus restrained, never involved. Trouville was outrun. Decision In Five sat behind the early pace, tired. Akenstone showed little.
Categories: Grade II
