OCEANPORT, NJ – Gunpowder Farms and Brereton Jones’ Divisidero ended his nearly 14-month losing streak with a strong rebound effort in Sunday’s $150,000 Red Bank Stakes (G3).
Breaking from the rail under Julien Pimentel as the 8/5 second choice, Divisidero took back and watched as Diamond King, trying turf for the first time, held command through opening fractions of :23.27 and :46.98. Creeping forward along the inside through far turn, Pimentel swung Divisidero out four-wide at the top of the stretch.
Running along the outside of the even-money favorite Firey Speech, Divisidero wasn’t able to clear off as easily as he might’ve initially though, but his class carried him to the wire to win by a length. The Kelly Rubley trainee completed the mile-long event over the firm turf course in a final time of 1:34.37.
“They were going pretty quick early and I think that definitely helped,” Pimentel said. “He’s a really nice horse. He won pretty easily, going away. I always felt like I had a lot of horse. I was just biding my time because I had horses outside of me, but when I asked him to go, he really took off. He really responded.”
After breaking slowly, Firey Speech was able to gather himself enough to run within the group of five, but the poor start may have cost him a better shot at winning. Behind him came Maraud, who made first run at the pacesetter but couldn’t sustain it. Say the Word and a tired Diamond King completed the order of finish. Abiding Star and Robin Hood were scratched.
Divisidero’s win was his first since taking the 2018 Arlington Handicap (G3) and improved his overall record to 28-7-6-4. The 7-year-old intact son of Kitten’s Joy has now earned $1,604,539 in his career.
“He’s been so close for a while now,” Rubley said. “I thought today was a very patient ride and the pace scenario worked out for us. I’m thrilled. We’ve been waiting a long time for this. He shows up every time and he tries, but it has been a while between wins. He’s a wonderful horse to train. Very consistent. You can’t take anything away from him. Once I saw the 1/2-mile fraction, I thought we were okay. Julian did a real nice job of being patient and waiting for the right time to make his move.”
Divisidero returned $5.20 to win, $2.40 to place, and $2.10 to show. Firey Speech brought back $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show, while Maraud paid $2.80 to show.