Favorite Takes Diplomat Way Wire To Wire

The final race on the card this Saturday was the Diplomat Way Handicap (G1). This prestigious race attracted a total of twelve runners this year, including Middle Jewel and New Yorker winner, Awesome Force, owned by camry. The race would be run over a mile on the dirt. Despite the nearby threat of rain, as expected the track dodged the bullet and the rack came of as fast for race day. The twelve horses made their way easily down to the start gate and loaded without incident, waiting for the start of the Grade I race.

When the gates clanged open, Who Do You Love, owned by lenny9, lunged out to an early two length lead over crandyiv trained Henianlauch. Two and three-fourth lengths back in third under jockey S. O’Calslew, was Sad In Heaven, trained by ih8u. Along in fourth and fifth was Belisario and Pye Are Squared (AUS), who are owned and trained by fernando and jeffdrew respectively. Just behind in sixth, four and three-fourth lengths back was waremblem1 trained Manius The Mighty. Out of the gate last and trailing the field early on was Awesome Force.

Favorite, Who Do You Love lengthened his lead to four and a half lengths over Henianlauch as the race progressed. Sad In Heaven still clung onto third, four and three-fourth lengths back now. Blesario and Pye Are Squared (AUS), continued to battle it out in fourth and fifth. Moving up into seventh just behind Manius The Mighty was zaza owned Staff Trouble, who just shot past Modnar (FR), trained by mesow. Etude (IRE), owned by super24, ran behind in ninth. Still trailing the field was Awesome Force.

As the field came into the final turn Who Do You Love was still in the lead and lengthening it, in front now by six and one-fourth lengths. Blesario had shot forward on the turn as well and was now on the outside and in second. Staff Trouble shot up into third with Manius The Mighty in fourth. Pye Are Squared (AUS) still held back in fifth. Sad In Heaven was fading now and was back in sixth and continuing to drop. Monksfield, owner of Kinlochleven, began to make his move and was now in seventh and gaining ground with every stride. Modnar (FR) struggled in eighth with Etude (IRE) just behind in ninth. Henianlauch was out of the race and dropping back quickly, now in tenth. Awesome Force was beginning to make his move now and was gaining ground steadily. Now trailing the field as they came for home was wistful2 trained Broadway Storm.

In the stretch Who Do You Love was still in the lead but losing ground as the calvary charge came towards him with Belsario and Staff Trouble leading the pack. The wire came just in time for Who Do You Love who managed to cinch the win by one and one-fourth lengths with a speed figure of one hundred twelve under jockey P. Cadigan. Coming in second was Staff Trouble with Manius The Mighty just off his flank to finish third.

Also rans: Kinlochleven, Awesome Force, Belisario, Pye Are Squared (AUS), Etude (IRE), Modnar (FR), Broadway Storm, Sad In Heaven, and Henianlauch.