by Jenny Blandford

James Barry’s Divine Park drove clear to a visually impressive five-length victory in the $109,100 Westchester Handicap (G3) on Wednesday at Belmont Park, the opening-day feature of the meet.

The four-year-old Chester House colt settled in third through six-furlongs in 1:09.14 as Saint Daimon, with Mr. Umphrey close behind, led the six-horse field. Turning for home, Divine Park continued to race wide under Alan Garcia while rapidly closing the gap near the quarter pole.

Divine Park charged past Saint Daimon and Mr. Umphrey to open a 3 ½-length lead in upper stretch. Divine Park continued to lengthen his lead and completed the one-mile race in 1:32.74 on a track rated as fast.

 Grade 3 winner Grasshopper, the 0.65-to-1 favorite, unleashed a determine rally while drifting out in midstretch to finish second, three-quarters of a length in front of Grade 2 winner Sightseeing.  

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Divine Park entered off a 3 3/4-length victory in an allowance/optional claiming race on March 28 at Aqueduct after beginning the season with an unplaced finish in the General George Handicap (G2) on February 18 at Laurel Park.

Divine Park began his career last season with three consecutive wins, capped by the Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct in April. He was sidelined during the summer with a bruised hind cannon bone and did not race again until December, when he finished unplaced in the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Out of the winning Ascot Knight mare High in the Park, Divine Park improved to five wins in seven starts and boosted his earnings to $247,935.  

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Jenny Blandford is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor