Stymie a major challenge for Diversify

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Rick Violette did not see the need to rush Diversify into stakes company. He passed on earlier stakes opportunities to await the Stymie, a race that has typically come up on the weak side since it was brought back on the calendar in 2014.

Well, the 60th running of the $125,000 Stymie on Sunday at Aqueduct is anything but weak, having drawn a strong cast of 10.

Diversify puts his 4-for-4 record on the line against the millionaire Royal Posse, multiple New York-bred stakes winner Send It In, and the multiple open-company stakes winner Sunny Ridge – not to mention Turco Bravo, who has won this race the last two years as the longest shot in the field.

“No question, it’s a real race,” Violette said Friday. “It’s a pretty deep field with no standout. It’s part of the plan. We kicked it around going into a two-other-than … We do want to find out where we belong, how good he is, and if he moves up the ladder. It helps us map out the rest of the year.”

Most certainly, Diversify will be the one to catch in the 1 1/8-mile race under Jose Ortiz. Diversify has won all four of his races on the front end, including a first-level allowance Jan. 14, when he ran the mile and 70 yards 0.06 seconds faster than Sunny Ridge did in winning the Jazil one race earlier. Diversify did switch to his incorrect lead late in the race but still held off Admiral Blue, a 46-1 longshot who is back in this field.

Diversify, who breaks from post 8, is likely to get some pace pressure from Doyouknowsomething and perhaps Dolphus.

“The post position is a good spot – all the other speed is inside of us,” Violette said. “If he breaks running, he can control that. If he ends up third, stalking, with the other two speeds going head-and-head, we’re capable of doing that.”

Sunny Ridge took advantage of a hot early pace to win the Jazil by 4 3/4 lengths, his first win since taking the Withers Stakes over this track in January 2016.

“It was nice to see that, but now I got the big bounce coming,” trainer Jason Servis said. “I’m just hoping he shows up.”

Sunny Ridge, who is 0 for 4 at 1 1/8 miles, carries the top weight of 123 pounds, spotting the rest of the field five to seven pounds.

KEY CONTENDERS

Royal Posse, by Posse

Last 3 Beyers: 72-95-100

◗ He had finished first or second in his previous 15 starts before stumbling badly at the break and running fourth in the Jazil. Though winless in seven starts over the inner track, he is 9 for 12 at 1 1/8 miles.

Send It In, by Big Brown

Last 3 Beyers: 97-96-102

◗ He has won 7 of his last 9 starts, with the two losses coming by a head and a neck.

◗ He is proven around two turns and at the distance.

◗ John Velazquez comes up from south Florida to ride.

Diversify, by Bellamy Road

Last 3 Beyers: 97-100-91

◗ He has won his four starts by a combined 23 1/2 lengths.

Sunny Ridge, by Holy Bull

Last 3 Beyers: 96-89-93

◗ His two most important victories came in two-turn races over the inner track. Servis said he likes the 1 1/8 miles for Sunny Ridge despite his 0-for-4 record at the distance.