El Deal the up-and-comer in Diablo Stakes
The Diablo Stakes at Belmont Park on Sunday came up remarkably strong for a $100,000 race. The six-furlong sprint has drawn the gritty 6-year-olds Dads Caps, Stallwalkin’ Dude, and Green Gratto, who have made a combined 102 starts.
And then there is El Deal, a relative youngster at 4 who suffered the first loss of his career March 21 while returning from a 10-month layoff. Based at Belmont with trainer Andrew Lakeman, El Deal is 4 for 5.
Lakeman, who operates a small stable, did right by his best horse a year ago when he needed time off. El Deal had just scored an emphatic win in the Gold Fever Stakes, blazing six furlongs in 1:09.47 and earning a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
“We were trying to get to the Woody Stephens, but the exercise rider came back one morning and said he didn’t feel right, that he was getting out,” Lakeman said. “We did a bone scan, and all his ankles lit up. We could have gone on with him and maybe won the Woody Stephens, but if we had, would we have a horse like him now?”
In his comeback race, a no-conditions allowance at Parx, El Deal easily put away Favorite Tale on the far turn but could offer little resistance when Stallwalkin’ Dude came calling in midstretch. He was beaten 2 1/4 lengths under Jose Ortiz.
“I told Jose that if he got tired, not to do too much with him, and that’s what happened,” Lakeman said. “But he came out of the race awesome. He’s come back much stronger this year.”
As for Favorite Tale, he came out of the race with a knee chip.
On Sunday, something likely will have to give when El Deal and Green Gratto meet on the front end.
“Obviously, he has speed, but he’s pretty kind,” Lakeman said. “If Green Gratto were to go, I think the best idea would be to sit off him rather than go 21 and 44.”
Dads Caps, who finished third in the Grade 1 Carter on April 9, likely will be favored in the Diablo, but it will be intriguing to see how youth stacks up against experience.
Diablo Stakes, Race 8
Key contenders
El Deal, by Munnings
Last 3 Beyers: 91-95-81
◗ He was relaxed while pressing Favorite Tale from the outside at Parx and should be able to let Green Gratto go if necessary. That he drew inside Green Gratto makes matters tricky.
Dads Caps, by Discreet Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 99-76-76
◗ He ran super in the seven-furlong Carter, a race he won in 2014 and 2015. After putting Green Gratto away on the lead, he opened a clear lead in upper stretch but couldn’t contain the late runs of Salutos Amigos and Calculator, who were last and second to last early.
◗ He has plenty of speed and can challenge early, but at six furlongs, he may end up just off the pace.
Ready for Rye, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-86
◗ He will be dropping out of a pair of Grade 3 stakes tries for trainer Tom Albertrani. He finished second in the Commonwealth at Keeneland last out and prior to that was third in the Gulfstream Park Sprint.
◗ Last year at 3, he won the Grade 2 Swale at Gulfstream Park, the Quick Call on the turf at Saratoga, and the off-the-turf Allied Forces at Belmont Park.
Stallwalkin’ Dude, by City Place
Last 3 Beyers: 93-97-94
◗ He lacked a closing kick over a muddy track in the Carter and finished fifth but was sharp in defeating El Deal two starts back.
◗ If Green Gratto, El Deal, and Dads Caps engage early, he could get a nice setup.
Green Gratto, by Here’s Zealous
Last 3 Beyers: 67-89-96
◗ He wilted going seven furlongs in the Carter and General George in his last two starts. The return to six furlongs works in his favor.