Diversify appears vulnerable in Commentator Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – In theory, a Grade 1-winning horse dropping out of a Grade 2 into restricted company should be a standout. In reality, Diversify looks to be a bit vulnerable when he goes off as the likely favorite in Monday’s $200,000 Commentator Stakes at Belmont Park.

Diversify’s weapon is his speed, something he used to wire the field in last year’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup here in October. He encountered other speed in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill, where he ran fourth, and in last month’s Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, where he finished last of seven after failing to negotiate the three turns of the Charles Town strip.

Rick Violette, trainer of Diversify, had hoped to use the Charles Town Classic as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap here June 9, but he didn’t feel comfortable running him in that spot off his most recent effort.

“I’m intrigued by the Met, but the right thing to do is run here,” Violette said. “Hopefully, it’ll set us up for the Suburban.”

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If Diversify goes to the front in the Commentator, he figures to have company in the likes of Mr. Buff, Jewel Can Disco, Control Group, and possibly Weekend Hideaway, winner of the last two runnings of the Commentator.

With all that speed, a closer like Pat on the Back figures to benefit. Pat on the Back finished a fast-closing second behind Eye Luv Lulu in the Affirmed Success going six furlongs last out. He will stretch out to a mile here and will go out first time for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

“Going a quarter-mile more you’d want to think he’s going to really improve with the distance,” Englehart said. “Sometimes, it takes a little bit of the kick out of the horse. He’s had a couple of nice works going into this race.”

Diversify was beaten a nose by Weekend Hideaway in this race last year. Weekend Hideaway was cross-entered as a main-track-only runner in a Sunday allowance race.

Can You Diggit finished second in a pair of New York-bred stakes earlier this year before winning an allowance on the front end last out. T Loves a Fight, who won the Mike Lee on this card last year, tries a mile in the first start of his 4-year-old season.

The Commentator is the highlight of Monday’s New York Showcase Day program, which consists of 10 races restricted to New York-breds including six stakes worth $900,000 in purse money. First post for the 10-race card is 1:30 p.m.