Diversify to be pre-entered in Breeders' Cup Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. – Diversify, the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, will be pre-entered Monday for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 4, but trainer Rick Violette stopped short of committing him to the race.

On Saturday at Belmont Park, Diversify worked five furlongs in 1:01.88 over the main track. Daily Racing Form timed Diversify in splits of 12.41 seconds, 24.63, and 36.45, with a final quarter of 25.43. Exercise rider Rodney Paine told Violette the horse felt the same to him as he did in his two works prior to the Gold Cup.

“All he needed to do was go five-eighths in 1:03,” said Violette, who was not on hand for the work while still overcoming an illness. “His serious work will be a week out like we did going into the Gold Cup. He runs well off a quick breeze. We’ll make a decision after the last work.”

By virtue of his victory in the Gold Cup, Diversify earned a fees-paid berth in the Classic, meaning it will not cost owner Ralph Evans any money to pre-enter the horse. Final entries will be taken Oct. 30.

Diversify, a New York-bred gelding by Bellamy Road, took advantage of a lack of speed in the field to win the Gold Cup by a length over Keen Ice in gate-to-wire fashion. In the Classic, top contenders like Gun Runner, Arrogate, and Collected all have speed.

“It’s a tough race,” Violette said.

Should Diversify skip the Breeders’ Cup, he will be considered for either the Grade 1 Clark Handicap on Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs or the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 2.

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