Finger Lakes: Nothing But Power, Diamond District renew rivalry Tuesday

Long-distance specialists Nothing But Power and Diamond District will resume their rivalry, this time going 1 3/4 miles, in Tuesday’s latest round of the North Warning distance series at Finger Lakes.

The starter-allowance series, named in honor of a gelding who set the Finger Lakes track record for 1 5/8 miles as a 10-year-old in 1994, is restricted to horses who have run for a claiming tag of $5,000 or less within the past three years.

The 8-year-old Diamond District won going 1 3/16 miles in July and defeated Nothing But Power by 1 1/4 lengths going 1 1/2 miles in late August. But the 5-year-old Nothing But Power turned the tables three weeks ago, when he overtook pacesetter Diamond District and drew clear to win by 18 lengths in a 1 5/8-mile marathon.

Nothing But Power’s performance, which earned him a career-high 78 Beyer Speed Figure, looks impressive. But his winning time of 2:52.42 pales in comparison with what North Warning did as a 10-year-old on Sept. 4, 1994. North Warning, who recorded 20 wins, 19 seconds, and 18 thirds in 106 starts, ran 1 5/8 miles in 2:46.60, almost six seconds faster than Nothing But Power.

Fortunately for Nothing But Power, he only has Diamond District to worry about in Tuesday’s marathon. There is a four-pound shift in the weights in Diamond District’s favor for their third meeting since Aug. 30. As the 120-pound highweight, Nothing But Power will spot each of his six opponents two pounds.

The 21-day interval between long-distance races should not be a problem for either Nothing But Power or Diamond District. Nothing But Power, who gained eligibility for the starter-allowance series by running twice for a $4,500 tag late last year, returned on 18 days’ rest to win at 1 5/8 miles last time out. Diamond District came back 20 days after a near-miss going 1 1/4 miles to win in wire-to-wire fashion at 1 1/2 miles Aug. 30.

Tuesday’s race actually will mark a cutback in distance for the 7-year-old Stay Alittle While. He most recently faced $12,500 starter-allowance foes in a 2 1/4-mile race at Presque Isle Downs. His trainer, M. Anthony Ferraro, is 4 for 17 (24 percent) with route runners switching from synthetic to dirt while back in 14 days or fewer.