Sadler's Joy rallies from last for Mac Diarmida score

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The first 10 horses who chased One Go All Go for 1 3/8 miles over the Gulfstream Park turf course Saturday were never able to get past him in the 23rd running of the Mac Diarmida.

What it took was a sensational rally from the longtime trailer, Sadler’s Joy, to finally overhaul One Go All Go, making the public look smart in its prognosis of the Grade 2, $200,000 turf fixture. Sadler’s Joy, a Grade 1 winner making his first start in four months, shot past with about 70 yards to go to win by three-quarters of a length, with One Go All Go, a 12-1 shot under Chris Landeros, another three-quarters of a length ahead of Nessy.

The winner paid $5.80 as the favorite in the 12-horse field after finishing in 2:12.93 over firm going. Sadler's Joy earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The plan was to be closer,” said Julien Leparoux, who rode Sadler’s Joy for owner-breeder Woodslane Farm and trainer Tom Albertrani. “But he broke slow, so I bided my time and let him get his feet under him. When it was time to go, I went around everyone because I didn’t want his momentum stopped. It all worked out. He ran a great race.”

Sadler’s Joy, a 5-year-old horse by Kitten’s Joy, rallied to win the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga last summer before finishing a late-running fourth in both the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Turf, all with Leparoux aboard. From 15 starts, he now has banked nearly $1.35 million for Rene and Lauren Woolcott of Woodslane.

The win was the second in the Mac Diarmida for Albertrani, following Twilight Eclipse in 2014.

The $2 exacta (1-3) paid $59.40, the $1 trifecta (1-3-9) returned $223.80, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-3-9-12) was worth $141.76.