Edwin Diaz's horse wins at Saratoga as 19/1 underdog

The Mets may not be doing a lot of winning on the field these days, but they’re at least claiming some victories off of it.

Mets closer Edwin Diaz’s horse, , won the $150,000 Mahony Stakes as a 19/1 underdog Sunday at Saratoga.

Diaz is a co-owner of the horse, whose name references Diaz’s role as the Mets’ closer and the 29-year-old’s nickname of “Sugar.”

The $102-million reliever is a big fan of horse racing and has a strong relationship with jockeys and fellow Puerto Rico natives Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz, who are considered the best jockeys in New York.

Neither brother rode Closethegame Sugar on Sunday, with Jose Lezcano instead riding the horse to the big upset.

Diaz’s fellow co-owner is trainer Adam Rice, and they purchased the horse for $10,000 at the Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale in 2021.

Rice told Bloodhorse.com he does not know when Closethegame Sugar will run again, although they are considering running the three-year-old on dirt.

Closethegame Sugar has won two of his three career starts, along with one second-place finish, and has earned $144,150.

“He’s one of my favorite horses to ride every day. I can’t talk and I might be tearing up a little bit,” Rice said after the win, according to Bloodhorse.com. “I tell you what, there’s so much fight in this horse it’s not even funny. He gives every bit you ask of him.”

Diaz is rehabbing his torn patellar tendon in his right knee that has sidelined him for the season thus far.

The Mets are unsure if Diaz will pitch again this year but they are leaving the door open for a return.

Diaz is in the first year of his five-year record contract that paid him the most money ever for a reliever.

“It’s not close to being a decision we need to make, but at some point I’m hoping that discussion gets more serious,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said last week. “Is it good for him? Not good for him? What happens next February when that’s the first time [he pitches]. Is something that happens here that will let us know exactly where he’s gonna be next April? No. Nobody’s that smart.”