Defiant Honor wires the field in Riskaverse
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » With two wins and a second in her first four starts, Defiant Honor’s career was off to a promising start. A sixth as the 3-1 favorite in the Lake George Stakes (G3) on opening day put a temporary halt to that career trajectory.
In Thursday’s $100,000 Riskaverse Stakes, Defiant Honor re-confirmed that promise with a strong rally through the stretch to take the one-mile turf test by a half-length over Fizzy Friday. Bernadiva was third and was followed by Chubby Star, Cherry Lodge, Let It Ride Mom, Danceland, Berned, Talaaqy, Jordan’s Henny, Lido and Pretty City Dancer. Time of the race was 1:35.67 over a firm Inner Turf course.
“I think she’s a quality filly, and things went well for her today,” said winning trainer Jimmy Toner. “(Winning jockey Jose Lezcano) has ridden her twice now and has won twice. She had had a myectomy, where they cut the muscles in the throat because, with the displacement of the soft
pallet, it cuts off the wind and they can’t breathe. But today, you can see the difference.”
Lezcano, who also was aboard Defiant Honor in an allowance win at Belmont two months ago, liked what he saw on Thursday.
“I broke inside the speed and let my filly get comfortable,” said thee veteran rider. “I wasn’t worried about the slow pace and whether I’d be able to close with her. She was doing it very easily, and I knew I had plenty of horse under me. When I asked her at the quarter-pole, she went on with it and performed very good.”
Cherry Lodge bolted to an early advantage that grew to five lengths after an opening quarter in :23.67, with Defiant Honor settled comfortably in second. Cherry Lodge was still on top turning for home, but Defiant Honor surged to the front while still in upper stretch, Her lead was a length and a half at the eighth pole, enough of a margin that she was able to hold off the late rush of Fizzy Friday.
With Thursday’s win, Defiant Honor improves to 3-1-0 from six starts, and bumps her earnings to $172,015.
Diplomat upsets Turf Writers at 17-1
It had been a long time between trips to the winner’s circle for Diplomat — almost two years — but the eight-year-old gelding picked the right time to pay a return visit. Sent off as the next-to-last choice at 17-1, and racing toward the back of the field for much of the 2 3/8-mile race, the son of Kitten’s Joy made a rousing run through the late stages to win the $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup by three lengths.
“We’re very pleased,” said winning trainer Kate Dalton. “It seemed like there was going to be a lot of pace in the race, and we were thinking that we wanted to sit him in a little bit more this time, and try to come with one run. I guess it worked out.
“He’s a really genuine horse,” Dalton added. “He’s a lovely horse, and he tries all the time as hard as he can. He’s had a lot of weight ups and downs, so having 138 pounds on him today (18 fewer than favored Modem) was a real advantage.”
Longshot Alcazar de Maram and second choice All the Way Jose (5-1) took care of the early running, with the latter leading over the final jump and well into the stretch. He was unable to hold off Modem and Diplomat, however, as those two collared him in midstretch, with Diplomat putting the former away over the final furlong. Time of the race was 4:29.90 over a “firm” course.
“It’s great my wife trains the horse – I ride him most days at home,” said winning rider Bernard Dalton. “He surprised me how easily he actually did it. I followed Modem through most of the race, and at the top of the (stretch) when I pulled him out and asked him to go, he just quickened right up.”
Modem held second by 1 ¾ lengths over All the Way Jose. They were followed in order by Choral Society, Swansea Mile, Show Court, Mr. Hot Stuff, Casino Markets, Alcazar de Maram and Three Kingdoms.
Diplomat, who races for Flying Elvis Stable, has now won 9-of-41 starts over jumps and on the flat and earned $349,720.