Monday, February 27 2012

Simmard Holds Off Newsdad in Mac Diarmida

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL - Haras Santa Maria de Araras’ 7-year-old Kentucky homebred Simmard kept digging in after taking the lead in the final turn of Sunday’s $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, and held on for a game nose victory over James Karp’s 2-to-1 favorite Newsdad in the 1 3/8 miles turf test.

Leading Gulfstream jockey Javier Castellano was aboard Simmard, taking a stalking position close-up in third in the field of 10 older horses as 25 to-1 longshot Mambo Meister set a moderate pace through three-quarters in 1:13 3/5. Simmard took command into the final turn and was joined by Newsdad for the long duel to the finish as they hit the wire in 2:11:71 over the ‘firm’ course.