Diamond Oops Shines Bright in Mr. Prospector Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Diamond Oops wins the Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, D P Racing, and Patrick Biancone Racing's Diamond Oops battled back in the stretch of the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) Dec. 21 at Gulfstream Park to run down favorite Imperial Hint and score his second graded stakes win of the season.
All eyes were on battle-tested sprinters X Y Jet and Imperial Hint at the South Florida track. Making his first start since being scratched from the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park because of a hoof blister, Imperial Hint was an even-money favorite in the seven-furlong sprint. Also making his first start off an extended layoff was X Y Jet, who had not been seen since March when he won the Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1) at Meydan.
X Y Jet broke sharply, bumping briefly with Zenden before driving to the lead. Jockey Javier Castellano took Imperial Hint in hand quickly and settled just outside the leader. The pair dueled relatively clear of the competition along the backstretch as X Y Jet set fractions of :21.92 and :43.85 through the half-mile.
Guided by Julien Leparoux, Diamond Oops raced just off the pace through most of the race, settling in fifth in the six-horse field. Imperial Hint caught X Y Jet as they turned for home and pulled clear. X Y Jet weakened and drifted back as Diamond Oops cut down the center of the stretch to challenge Imperial Hint, who held gamely but did not have enough in reserve.
Diamond Oops rallied in the final strides and hit the wire one length in front in 1:21.36. Lasting Legacy made the widest trip of all to get up at the wire in a photo finish for second. Imperial Hint held for third.
"We obviously knew there was going to be a lot of speed in there. He broke sharp and settled really nice for me," Leparoux said. "At the three-eighths pole, I started to make my move. I was coming behind them loaded. I came out and he made a big run."
Zenden, Home Base, and X Y Jet completed the field.
Bred in Kentucky by Kin Hui Racing Stables, Diamond Oops is out of the Whywhywhy mare Patriotic Viva. Biancone, who trained both Whywhywhy and Patriotic Viva, said the Lookin At Lucky gelding's fighting spirit was typical of the family.
"He appreciates a little moisture in the track. He's had a good year of racing and training. He's still a young horse for his age because he missed a year," Biancone said. "We're very happy with him today. Even though the pace was fast, he was cruising behind them. Julien rode him perfect."
Trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said he was pleased with Imperial Hint's third-place effort and hoped it would set him up nicely for a potential start in the Saudi Cup Feb. 29.
"Seven furlongs was a little too far. That's it. That's all I was worried about. Javier said he felt good. He just got a little tired. You could see him struggling a little bit at the end. His best distance is three-quarters. This will hopefully set him up good for Saudi. It gives us six weeks—almost two months to get him ready. And if all goes well, we'll jump to Dubai from there."
Diamond Oops' first graded win this year came in June, when he took the Smile Sprint Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream. He improved his record to 5-2-1 from 12 starts, with $646,490 in earnings.