James Barry’s DIVINE PARK (Chester House) settled off the early pace in
Wednesday’s Belmont Park opening day feature, the $109,100
Westchester H. (G3), came wide into the stretch and powered home an easy
five-length winner under jockey Alan Garcia as the near 3-1 second pick. Trained
by Kiaran McLaughlin, the bay gelding finished a mile on the fast dirt in 1:32
3/5 to reward his backers with payouts of $7.90, $3.40 and $2.40.
“He really wanted to go that fast,” Garcia said. “In the early part, he was
so relaxed and I was so confident. When I asked him, he was just perfect.”
Saint Daimon (Saint Ballado) and Miner’s Lamp (Seeking the Gold) tried to
start the race early, acting up in the gate and causing the doors to open. The
gate crew got the pair settled down and the doors opened on their own, with
Saint Daimon quickly showing to the front. The bay gelding posted splits of :22
2/5, :46 3/5 and 1:09 while closely tracked by Mr. Umphrey (Jules). It was another four
lengths back to Divine Park, with 3-5 favorite Grasshopper (Dixie Union) just to
his outside.
Rounding the turn, Saint Daimon began backing up and the second flight of
runners suddenly overtook the early runners. Grasshopper was gearing up under
Robby Albarado, but Divine Park had already hit full flight and blew into the
lead,
opening up on his rivals before crossing under the wire much the best.
Grasshopper held second by three parts of a length over Sightseeing (Pulpit),
giving back $2.40 and $2.10, while show was worth $2.40 at 5-1. The exotics
totaled $16.20 (exacta) and $41.40 (trifecta). Miner’s Lamp rounded out the top
four and was followed under the wire by Mr. Umphrey and Saint Daimon.
Divine Park captured his first three career races last year, including the
Withers S. (G3), before suffering his first loss in the Malibu S. (G1).
Returning on February 18, the bay four-year-old broke through the gate in the
General George S. (G2) and ended up last of seven in that one, but came back to
take an allowance/optional claiming test in advance of this one by 3 3/4 lengths
on March 28. From a 7-5-0-0 record, the colt has now banked $247,935.
Bred in Kentucky by Runnymeade Farm Inc. and Catesby W. Clay, Divine Park
brought $20,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is out of the winning High in
the Park (Ascot Knight) and has an unnamed juvenile half-sister by Five Star
Day.
Divine Park could show up next in the Metropolitan H. (G1) on May 26,
according to McLaughlin.
“The Met Mile is a little quick back for us, but it is hard to pass off a
race like this,” the conditioner admitted.