Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile 'first choice' for Diamond Oops' team
Grade 1 stakes-placed on dirt and turf in his two most recent starts, Diamond Oops is being pointed to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 2.
“I talked to my partners and we are going to the Breeders’ Cup for the Mile Dirt,” trainer Patrick Biancone said. “That’s our first choice. If he doesn’t get in for some reason, he’ll go in the Sprint.”
Diamond Oops, who captured the Smile Sprint (G3) on the June 29 Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream Park, finished second in the July 27 Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga, four lengths behind Imperial Hint and 3 ½ lengths ahead of Mitole.
The 4-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky moved to the turf Oct. 5 at Keeneland, where he finished second in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1). He set a pressured paced before falling to Bowies Hero by three-quarters of a length.
“I think he’s better on dirt to be honest with you,” Biancone said. “The plan for the (Shadwell) mile was to give him a good mile before we go to California.
“He’s a nice horse. He’s a very nice horse.
Diamond Oops won three of his first four career starts as a 2-year-old before going to the sidelines with an injury that kept him in his stall at Palm Meadows Training Center for several months.
“He had a pulled flexor in his pastern,” Biancone said. “It is very rare – the first time I’ve seen that.
“My partners have been very patient and now he’s just showing up. He has to improve, he lost so many months of training at 3. Every race he seems to get better and better. Hopefully, he’ll keep going. He better.”
Diamonds Oops is owned by Patrick L. Biancone Racing LLC in partnership with Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne and DP Racing LLC.