Diversify to Skip Breeders' Cup Classic

Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Diversify will not go to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) but will continue to train up to the Cigar Mile (G1) Dec. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack or the Clark Handicap (G1) Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs, co-owner Ralph Evans said Oct. 29.

"More than one (reason not to go to the Breeders' Cup)," said Evans, who co-owns the New York-bred with his daughter Lauren. "There are several in there that, if they run their 'A' race and we run our 'A' race, I don't think we can win. I don't want to go out there just to compete, so to speak. My ego isn't that big."

The 4-year-old Bellamy Road  gelding, who picked up his first graded win Oct. 7 in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, worked four furlongs in :46.88 Saturday for trainer Rick Violette Jr. The move was the fastest of 60 at the distance. 

NOVAK-CROSBY: New York-bred Diversify Wins Jockey Club Gold Cup

"He worked out very, very well yesterday," Evans said. "So we are contemplating either the Cigar Mile or the Clark at Churchill. One of those two, hopefully. 

"Rick and I spoke at length yesterday and I knew that he was tilting that way. And I did not disagree. We wanted to wait and see if there were any defections. If in fact there was a substantial defection, any one of the top four horses, we probably would go. We have until tomorrow morning, but as things stand now, he will not be going—it's 95%, and it will be 100% if everybody shows up on Monday."

Diversify recently rattled off three straight wins, the Jockey Club Gold Cup and two New York-bred stakes, including a dominating 11 1/2-length score in the Evan Shipman Stakes Aug. 21 at Saratoga Race Course.

Evans is thrilled with the way his runner is progressing and looks foward to the future. 

"When I bought him I thought I was buying a good New York-bred with conditions and now he has much exceeded that and he seems to be getting better," Evans said. "It's exciting. My daughter is a partner with me in the horse and it's her first foray into ownership and I'm delighted that she has a good taste in her mouth."

Bred by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Rule One, Diversify was purchased by his current connections for $210,000 out of the 2016 Keeneland November sale from the WinStar Farm consignment. He has a record of seven wins and two seconds from 10 starts, with earnings of $775,425.