Cheltenham Gold Cup: With Galopin Des Champs, class will prevail
Read this articleMain Sequence and Twilight Eclipse Square Off in Grade 2 Diarmida
The Grade 2 $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes features the return of 2014 Turf Horse of the Year Main Sequence who will take on seven rivals in the mile and three eighths race on the grass.
Main Sequence, the 6/5 morning line favorite will break from the rail post under jockey Rajiv Maragh. The six year-old gelding was last seen November 1 at Santa Anita winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf by a half length – his fourth Grade 1 victory of the year. Main Sequence, who previously raced in Great Britain, is undefeated since coming to the United States and has career earnings of $3,298,386. The Graham Motion trainee has worked steadily at Palm Meadows since January 7 and will face a familiar foe in Twilight Eclipse, who he defeated three times by a combined length in 2014.
Twilight Eclipse tries familiar foe once again
Twilight Eclipse (2/1) also returns to action following the Breeders’ Cup Turf where he finished third. If not for Main Sequence, Twilight Eclipse could have just as easily been a three-time Grade 1 winner in 2014. The six year old gelded son of Purim lost to Main Sequence by a neck in both the Grade 1 United Nations and Grade 1 Belmont Turf Classic. Just three quarters of a length separated the two in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer. The Thomas Albertrani trainee may have an edge over his nemesis at Gulfstream where he has won two of three career starts including last year’s Mac Diarmida.
Divine Oath showing improvement
Divine Oath (7/2) is in good form after a career-best effort winning the Grade 3 William McKnight Handicap December 27 at Gulfstream, but would need another major step forward to threaten the top two.
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