$40,000 claim Diplomat becomes Grade 1 winner in New York Turf Writers Cup
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Flying Elvis Stable of Adam and Richard Newman claimed Diplomat for $40,000 out of a steeplechase race at Saratoga in 2015, and on Thursday he won his second stakes for them, the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup, the meet's premier jump race.
Trained by Kate Dalton and ridden by her 49-year-old husband, Bernard, Diplomat bided his time at the back of the pack for much of the 2 3/8-mile race, which is run around five turns and over nine jumps. Dalton took Diplomat to the outside on the final turn, and he finished better than his nine rivals to score by three lengths. Diplomat paid $37.40 to win and was timed in 4:29.90.
The Daltons removed the blinkers Diplomat had worn in his prior two starts for the $150,000 New York Turf Writers. Diplomat had weakened in his last start, the A.P. Smithwick Memorial Handicap, to finish third behind Swansea Mile and Modem, both of whom he beat Thursday.
"We pulled the blinkers to help him relax more," Bernard Dalton said. "I couldn't get him back off horses in his last race."
Modem finished second for trainer Elizabeth Voss, who had won the New York Turf Writers in 2016 with Portrade and in 2015 with Bob Le Beau, who was fatally injured in last year's running. Modem carried high weight of 156 pounds in the New York Turf Writers, 18 more than Diplomat.
All the Way Jose finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Modem.
Diplomat is now 6 for 24 in steeplechase races. His prior stakes win came in the Grade 3, $50,000 David L. Ferguson Memorial at Great Meadow in Virginia in October 2015.
"I ride him most days," Bernard Dalton said. "The owners claimed him with the hope of winning a Grade 1, but it didn't look like he was up to it. But fortunately he was today."
Portrade was scratched on race day with a minor ankle injury, according to Voss. She said he will be pointed to the races in Far Hills, N.J.
Colla Pier, an irish-bred mare who was going to make her first United States start, was scratched by the veterinarian.