Stymie next target for Diversify

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Diversify, the undefeated New York-bred gelding, likely will make his next start in the $125,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct on March 12, trainer Rick Violette said Thursday.

Diversify is one of 15 horses nominated to the $100,000 Haynesfield Stakes for New York-breds on Feb. 11, but Violette doesn’t plan on running him there.

“I’d like him for the rest of the year,” Violette said. “I’m thinking of running him in the Stymie.”

Violette said he would also keep Diversify nominated to the series of stakes for older horses at Oaklawn, including the $500,000 Razorback Handicap on Feb. 20, the $250,000 Essex Handicap on March 18, and the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 15. Violette said the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic on April 22 is also intriguing.

“We need to start finding out how good he is,” Violette said.

On Thursday, Diversify worked an easy half-mile in 52 seconds. Violette said the slow breeze was designed to just let the gelding “blow off some steam.”

“He was getting a little keen,” Violette said.