Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Divining Rod ends long layoff
Divining Rod ended his 4-year-old season last Thanksgiving weekend with the best race of his career. He will try to shake the rust off Saturday when he begins his comeback in the $75,000 Polynesian Stakes at Laurel Park.
The seven-furlong Polynesian is one of two stakes on the card and is slotted as race 8. The Twixt, race 10, is run under the same conditions for fillies and mares.
Divining Rod opened a clear lead in upper stretch of the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in November before being joined from the outside by Pennsylvania Derby winner Connect. The two battled eye to eye through the final furlong while brushing several times before Connect put his head in front nearing the wire.
Divining Rod was freshened after that race before rejoining the stable of Arnaud Delacour at Tampa Bay Downs in December. He worked three furlongs at Tampa on Dec. 31 but soon afterward came down with a physical problem that sent him back to the farm.
“He had some pressure on his ankle, an issue that he also had the year before, so we sent him to Rood & Riddle to get checked out,” Delacour said. “There were a few minor things, and he needed 60 days. We gave him the time and then brought him back to Tampa and began pointing to a midsummer comeback.”
Divining Rod has a steady pattern of 11 works dating to May 22, and Delacour is pleased with his conditioning. If he runs well Saturday, a possible next start is the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap, a one-mile race at Belmont Park on Sept. 23.
“He’s acting great, and we have been able to put some very nice bits of work into him,” Delacour said. “I think the seveneighths comeback is perfect for him, and the race is a month and a half before the Kelso.”
Divining Rod is 3-5 on the morning line for the Polynesian, but since he is coming off a long layoff and there isn’t much speed in the nine-horse field, bettors may want to look elsewhere.
Trainer Cal Lynch has entered Vorticity and Never Gone South, who could be first and second early. If they don’t compromise each other, Vorticity is a wire-to-wire threat.
Another interesting horse is No Distortion, who is turning back in distance off a win in the 1 1/16-mile Carl Hanford Memorial at Delaware Park for Larry Jones. He should be rolling late.
In the Twixt, Shimmering Aspen is well spotted by trainer Rodney Jenkins even though she will be facing older rivals. A 3-year-old daughter of Malibu
Moon, Shimmering Aspen is 4 for 6 in her career and has looked brilliant in her three victories this year.
Following her 5 3/4-length score June 17 in the Alma North Stakes at Laurel, Jenkins considered bringing her back July 9 in the Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park but ultimately skipped that race. She comes into the Twixt off three strong works.
Trainer Bret Calhoun has entered the Kentucky-based Mayla, who has chased the speedy Finley’sluckycharm in her last three starts. Finley’sluckycharm has since finished second, beaten a neck by Paulassilverlining, in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga.
Mayla, 5, most recently finished third in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Line of Best Fit, trained by Kieron Magee, shortens up in distance after finishing third, beaten three lengths by Songbird, in the 1 1/4-mile Delaware Handicap.
My Magician and Sweet On Smokey, both trained by Claudio Gonzalez, closed well last time out to finish first and second, separated by a nose, in the Dashing Beauty at Delaware.