Lynch Excited for Dashman's Next Step in Mac Diarmida

Frankly Speaking's homebred Dashman , winner of the William L. McKnight Stakes (G3T) in his 4-year-old debut, will look to build on that victory in the $215,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) March 1 at Gulfstream Park.

The 1 3/8-mile turf race drew 12 entries. Dashman, a colt by Oscar Performance  , earned his first black type at odds of 19-1, but trainer Brian Lynch said he thinks Dashman has further upside.

"We're thrilled with him," Lynch said. "First start as a 4-year-old against older horses in a graded stakes last time and gets it done. It was a very, very good effort. He gets a little cutback in distance this time which I'm sure he's going to appreciate. He's definitely going in the right direction. We're very excited about the year ahead for him."

Dashman picks up 6 pounds off the McKnight and will carry co-high weight at 124. Luis Saez has been named to ride, and Dashman will break from the outermost post.

Ken Ramsey's Cash Equity , who was beaten a nose in the McKnight, gets an 8-pound weight shift against Dashman.  

"(Cash Equity has) earned a lot of checks, so I love the horse. He's been a little unfortunate in some situations," Championship Meet-leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "Last time he was traveling so well and (jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.) couldn't get him out at the right time and he lost a little momentum."

Edgard Zayas is named to ride Cash Equity with Ortiz jumping to the other co-high weight, Whisper Hill Farm's Grand Sonata , trained by Todd Pletcher. The 6-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro   is a multiple graded winner and by far the field's highest earner at $2,079,835.

The Mac Diarmida also features the return of multiple graded winner Missed the Cut , who hasn't run since finishing ninth in the June 22 Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at Ascot Racecourse. Previously trained by John Sadler, Missed the Cut will be making his first start for Cherie DeVaux Saturday. 

But they all need to beat trainer Mike Maker, who entered two horses in his attempt to continue to dominate the race. Maker has won the previous three editions of the Mac Diarmida and five of the last six.

Paradise Farms and David Staudacher's 8-year-old Karakontie   gelding Sugoi  won the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in his most recent start. Claimed for $50,000 at Keeneland in April 2024, Sugoi won the 2024 Louisville Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs for his new owners. Frankie Dettori has the mount Saturday.

Maker's second entrant, Flying P Stable's Cathkin Peak , looks similar. Maker and Flying P claimed Cathkin Peak for $80,000 in June 2024 at Churchill and then won the 1 5/8-mile John's Call Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in his first start for them. Paco Lopez has the call.

The Very One

The Mac Diarmida's sister race Saturday, the $165,000 The Very One Stakes (G3T), also at 1 3/8 miles on the turf, drew a field of nine fillies and mares.

The race features a rematch between Dixiana Farms' Forever After All , winner of the La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream, and the third-place finisher, LSU Stables' La Mehana .

Cayton Park Stud's Beach Bomb  is a multiple grade 1 winner in her native South Africa and most recently ran eighth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.