Easy half-mile work for Diversify

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Twenty-four hours before stepping on the van to head back to his regular home at Belmont Park, Diversify was given the opportunity to stretch his legs a little working an easy half-mile in 50.19 seconds shortly after the renovation break Monday at Saratoga.

As is customary with almost all workers from trainer Rick Violette’s barn, Diversify broke off at the three-eighths pole and breezed a furlong past the wire into the clubhouse turn. He galloped out with excellent energy into and around the bend, completing five-eighths in 1:02.97 before easing up three-quarters of a mile in 1:16.98.

“Just maintenance, a chance to blow off some steam,” Violette said. “Same as last week, just a little further. Now we might wait, maybe two-minute lick him a little bit, then he’ll have three breezes” before his next start.

Violette opted to bypass the Woodward here last weekend to await the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 29 at Belmont, a race Diversify won last year by a length over Keen Ice. Diversify won his second Grade 1 race earlier this summer with a popular, wire-to-wire, 3 1/2-length decision over Mind Your Biscuits in the Whitney.

Violette said he and owner Ralph Evans would sit down and decide Diversify’s status for the Breeders’ Cup Classic following the Gold Cup.