Main Sequence Returns in Mac Diarmida Stakes

Dual Eclipse Award winner Main Sequence will make his 2015 debut when he takes on seven opponents in the $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. IIT) at 1 3/8 miles at Gulfstream Park Feb. 21.

The 6-year-old gelded son of Aldebaran has not started since his victory in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park, in which he extended his unbeaten streak in the U.S. to four – all grade I races. Trained by Graham Motion for Flaxman Holdings, Main Sequence has won all four of his starts by a half-length or less, while demonstrating a powerful late closing kick.

His brief, but impressive, resume in the States earned him Eclipse Awards as champion turf male and champion older male.

Main Sequence will break from the rail under top weight of 123 pounds under the allowance conditions and will be ridden by Rajiv Maragh, who was aboard for his first three victories – the United Nations, Sword Dancer, and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational. John Velazquez rode Main Sequence in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The Mac Diarmida also will continue the one-sided rivalry between Main Sequence and his stubborn foe Twilight Eclipse, who was second in the United Nations and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and third in the Sword Dancer and Breeders’ Cup Turf. In those four defeats, Twilight Eclipse was beaten a total of 2 1/2 lengths.

Those losses to the champ obviously have not deterred his connections, West Point Thoroughbreds and Tom Albertrani, as they are aware of the fact that there is not much separating the two 6-year-old geldings.

Javier Castellano, who rode Twilight Eclipse in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, will be back aboard and will break from post 6.

Also getting in the act is trainer Todd Pletcher, who sends out Lets Go Stables Divine Oath, winner of the William L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Dec. 27. Prior to that the son of Broken Vow was a close third in the grade II Twilight Derby at Santa Anita and was victorious in the Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park and the American Derby (gr. IIIT) at Arlington International Racecourse.

The others in the field appear to be vastly overmatched. They include a maiden and two former claimers, although Artic North does have some back class is coming off a second in the two-mile H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream, while Money Talker hasn’t run since his victory in an allowance/optional claimer at Woodbine on Oct. 14.