FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CAMDEN (AP) — Diplomat made his first American start by taking the lead with three fences left and then holding off Syros to win Saturday's $75,000 Carolina Cup Steeplechase by 2 1/2 lengths at the Springdale Race Course.
Owned by Daybreak Stables, which is owned by his new trainer, Jimmy Day, the 6-year-old Kitten's Joy gelding made the 2 1/8-mile trip over 12 National fences in a winning time of 4:06.80 with Bernie Dalton in the saddle. It would be another length and a half back to Fog Island who was followed to the finish line by pace-setting Where's the Beef with Sporty rounding out the field of five.
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Day purchased Diplomat last year in Doncaster, England, for $18,600.
Defending National Steeplechase Association rider Willie McCarthy planted Welcome Here Farm's Where the Beef on the lead from the drop of the starter's flag and kept him there through the first nine fences, most of those with Fog Island anywhere from one to 2 1/2-lengths behind. After having been anywhere from third to fifth place, Dalton and Diplomat made a bold move to the front near the middle of the backstretch. By the 10th fence, the lead was Diplomat's, who only had to hold on down the home stretch.
Based out of Virginia, Day said the rough and extended winter in that part of the country made it tough for training any horse never mind trying to get a jumper prepared for an early season test such as the Carolina Cup. He told Dalton before the race Saturday that he was not expecting much out of Diplomat.
"I said, 'Look after him. There's no pressure,'" Day said he told his jockey. "As the owner, I said that he's had a tough winter and if he can get a piece of (the purse), that's great.'"
Dalton said he got a call from Day on Monday with an offer to ride Diplomat, who had not won over fences since two victories in Ireland in 2013. Saturday would make Diplomat's first over jumps in the U.S.
"I thought we had a very sensible gallop early on," said Dalton, who like Day is a native of Ireland. "I just tried to keep him in touch early on. I thought he jumped like a bunny rabbit."
Dalton and Diplomat put some distance between themselves and their pursuers as they rounded the turn for home. They made a bold jump at the final fence to maintain their lead. But in deep stretch, Diplomat needed to dig deep.
Dalton said he had a willing but tired horse at the finish.
"I think it was a pretty good performance," he said.
