Diversify overcomes poor start in Commentator Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – When Diversify won last fall’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup everything went his way as he cruised on the lead to a one-length upset in the most prestigious race of the Belmont Park fall meet.

Little had gone Diversify’s way since, with a loss in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs as the 7-5 favorite to end his 4-year-old season and a last-place finish as the 6-5 favorite in the Charles Town Classic to begin his 5-year-old campaign.

It didn’t go well for Diversify at the start of Monday’s $200,000 Commentator Stakes either, as he stumbled leaving the starting gate. But the classy gelding picked himself, dusted himself off, and recorded a gutsy nose victory over Pat On the Back in the featured event of the 10-race New York Showcase Day program.

Six of Diversify’s prior victories had come when he made the lead soon after the start. In his win in the Saginaw last year, he was within a half-length of the lead. Monday, he was 2 1/2 lengths off the pace after the first call.

Jose Ortiz, who hadn’t ridden Diversify since a nose loss to Weekend Hideaway in this race last year, said he let Diversify relax after the stumbling start.

“I did a Mike Smith,” Ortiz said, referring to the Hall of Fame rider of Triple Crown hopeful Justify. “I dropped my hands on him and he relaxed very well. They were going fast enough, which helped.”

Jewel Can Disco and Mr. Buff provided the pace dueling through a half-mile in 45.22 seconds.

Horses that raced close to the pace hadn’t won most of the card on dirt Monday. So when Diversify joined those leaders between the three-furlong pole and the quarter pole, Rick Violette, the trainer of Diversify, grew worried.

“When we joined the fray head-and-head at the five-sixteenths, I felt it was a little early,” Violette said. “Jose was right, sometimes you got to let the horse do the work.”

The way Diversify was running, Ortiz thought he was going to win rather comfortably. But Pat On the Back, under Dylan Davis, came with a sustained run and made him work for it.

Diversify held off Pat On the Back while running the mile in 1:34.34 over a track rated fast. He returned $6 as the 2-1 favorite.

“Any other day I wouldn’t have to hit him, but [Pat On the Back] ran a big race,” Ortiz said.

Jeremiah Englehart, the trainer of Pat On the Back, felt Diversify “ran a huge race. No one’s been close like that today and won. We almost got there.”

Pat On the Back finished 4 1/4 lengths ahead of Uncle Sigh. He was followed, in order, by Can You Diggit, Control Group, Jewel Can Disco, Papa Shot, Mr. Buff, and T Loves a Fight.

Violette said Diversify would likely return to open company for his next start which could come in the Grade 2 Suburban at 1 1/4-miles here on July 7.