Grade 1 Winner Diversify to Join Thomas' Florida String

For Ralph Evans it was the most difficult and emotional decision he has faced in 30 years of owning Thoroughbreds.

When Rick Violette Jr. passed away Oct. 21 after a lengthy battle with lung cancer, Evans lost more than a trainer. He was left without one of his closest friends for about 30 years, a person with whom he shared unforgettable experiences such as racing in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and winning the Whitney Stakes (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

So, when it came time for Evans and his daughter, Lauren, to choose a new trainer for Diversify, their winner of the aforementioned 2018 Whitney and 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup, it was a process filled with sorrow and many memories for the co-owners, but one that came to end Jan. 22 when Ralph Evans said that Jonathan Thomas will take over as the 6-year-old gelding's trainer.

"Jonathan was highly recommended and he's young, so he can relate better to my daughter," Ralph Evans said. "The fact that Jonathan is in Florida, where Diversify will be heading to train, played a key role in the decision. That's why he's not going to someone who is in New York now, or to other barns that were just too big for him."

Evans said the past few months have been difficult for him and his family as they pondered plans for their small stable and tried to come to terms with Violette's death.

"It's been difficult since Rick's passing," Evans said. "As much as we were prepared for it, we really weren't. It affected family members in different ways. We were so dependent on Rick; probably too dependent. Rick went to sales for us and insisted on being hands-on and very territorial—which is understandable. That became comfortable for me. He treated my money like it was his own. Even if I liked a horse, he would only spend so much money to buy it.

"It was too easy and I thought it would last forever. It was hard to make a change. There was no 'Plan B' other than Rick."

Lauren Evans has been involved in her father's stable since her teenage days. Violette's death also left a deep void in her life.

"This has definitely been the high of the highs in winning the Whitney and the low of the lows in Rick passing away a few months later. He has been a constant in my life since I was young," 55-year-old Lauren Evans said. "It's been very difficult and extremely emotional for everyone. You go through different stages of grief. Finding a new trainer has been far more difficult than we thought it would be."

Ralph Evans said he initially thought about pulling back from the sport, but was convinced by Lauren and his wife, Judith, to continue operating his stable of about seven horses, which is headed by Diversify.

"I urged my dad to stay in the business because it gives him so much pleasure," Lauren Evans said. "We didn't want him to step away because of what happened."

Ralph Evans said current plans for Diversify call for the New York-bred gelding to follow a schedule similar to last year. He is expected to start the year in the Commentator Stakes at Belmont Park for state-breds, with races such as the Suburban Stakes (G2)—which the son of Bellamy Road captured last year—the Whitney, and Jockey Club Gold Cup down the road.

Bred by Freed W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding out of the Street Cry mare Rule One, Diversify has won 10 of 16 starts with earnings of $1,989,425. He was purchased for $210,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale after starting his racing career for Violette with WinStar Farm.

Evans said he is hopeful that this might be the year when Diversify captures a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" stakes and then actually runs in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). In both 2018 and 2017, the gelding won a free spot in the Classic but did run. He spent the past several months turned out at Dr. Patty Hogan's farm in New Jersey, and Evans said he will be ready to ship to Florida once arrangements with Thomas are made.

"My thought is to have Diversify train in Florida for a few months and then head north to New York when the weather is better," he said.

"Last year, we did right by him and he did right by us, which was to Rick's credit, and that's our plan going forward. We'll see how it goes.

"I'm not concerned about winning the next grade 1. It took me 30 years to win my first grade 1, so I am fine."

Aside from Diversify, Evans also sent two 3-year-olds, Binary and the unraced Tariff Tantrum, to trainer Pat Kelly in New York, largely because Kelly was a close friend of and longtime fellow New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) board member with Violette.

Violette was NYTHA president for 10 years and served as a board member for more than 25 years.

Binary, who made two winless starts for Violette in 2018, made his first start for Kelly on Jan. 13 at Aqueduct Racetrack and finished fifth in the sixth race.

"There was a lot of emotion tied into the race. It brought back some memories," Kelly said. "I was disappointed the horse didn't run better but he should do better on turf.

"Ralph gave me a call and I was happy to help. We have a great relationship. We were on the NYTHA board together and he also helped us tremendously with the formation of the Jockey Injury Compensation Fund."

Lauren Evans said watching Binary's race at Aqueduct was more difficult than expected.

"It was a little tough watching the horse with Pat," she said. "The emotions are still a little raw. It's a difficult thing we are going through. We had so many great moments with Rick. The Whitney was unparalleled. It was definitely a memory to be cherished, especially with the rainbow at the end after all the rain and the (40-minute post time delay)."

Without question, the same emotions figure to come to the fore when Diversify makes his first start for Thomas.

"My father and I probably lean toward overthinking than underthinking," she said, "but our goal remains doing what's right for Diversify. He's enjoying a well-deserved rest and when it's time to run we'll get him out there."