Versatile Diamond Oops Continues Success in Phoenix
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Diamond Oops wins the Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland
A horse with a heart the size of Texas, Diamond Oops left his connections the best kind of tough decision to make with a victory in the $200,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) Oct. 2 at Keeneland.
The 5-year-old Lookin At Lucky gelding came off a win in the Sept. 4 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Presented by Sysco (G2T) at Churchill Downs to notch his first grade 2 on the dirt for trainer Patrick Biancone. With a solid victory on each surface this season, Diamond Oops could compete in either the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) or the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) next month at Keeneland. The Phoenix was a Breeders' Cup Challenge event, providing Diamond Oops with an automatic berth in the Sprint.
"Knowing Patrick, he'll probably wake up a week out and make a decision based on whatever he's feeling," said Andie Biancone, the trainer's daughter and assistant. "Maybe he'll flip a coin. We'll see."
Diamond Oops' connections enjoy the trophy presentation for the Phoenix Stakes
There was no doubt Diamond Oops was in the right race Friday. With regular rider Florent Geroux in the irons, he stalked along in third behind 3-year-olds No Parole and Empire of Gold, the latter a 51-1 shot, through an opening quarter in :22.24. Empire of Gold took the lead through a half in :44.73 and looked to carry on through five-eighths in :56.42, but Diamond Oops was charging home three wide with a powerful long rally and wore down his tiring rival approaching the wire.
"I was trying to time it right because when he makes the lead, he'll throw his heels up a little bit and slow himself down," Geroux said. "I was just trying to time it right. When he saw (Empire of Gold) as his target, I knew we were going to get him."
The winner eked out his score by three-quarters of a length, with another 3-year-old, Echo Town, two lengths back in third. Multimillionaire Whitmore was fourth, followed by Absolutely Aiden, No Parole, Midnight Sands, Mo Dont No, and Lexitonian to complete the order of finish. Copper Town, Edgemont Road, and Shashashakemeup were scratched.
"I have my full faith in him," Andie Biancone said. "Anytime he hits that quarter pole and there's a horse in front of him, I know he's going to catch him. He has the biggest heart; that's the real reason he's so good on both surfaces—he has a heart that can overcome anything."
Geroux was also effusive with his praise of Diamond Oops, who improved his record to 7-3-1 from 16 starts with earnings of $1,058,590 for Ivy Hui's Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, D P Racing, and Patrick L. Biancone Racing.
"It's remarkable. He's a tremendous horse, and he can even run longer if you ask him," the jockey said. "He runs on any surface. It's rare to run as good as he did last time on the turf at Churchill and now win a major prep for the Breeders' Cup Sprint."
Bred in Kentucky by Kin Hui Racing Stables out of the stakes-winning Whywhywhy mare Patriotic Viva, Diamond Oops is a half brother to stakes winner Patriotic Diamond and is by far the mare's most accomplished of five foals to race. Patriotic Viva's last reported foal is an unraced 2-year-old filly by Texas Red named Viva La Red.