Diamond Oops a Dubai candidate off Mr. Prospector win

Following Saturday’s matchup in Gulfstream Park’s Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3), the race’s “Big 3” contenders could each meet again overseas.

Trainer Patrick Biancone said Diamond Oops, a $9 upset winner of the seven-furlong sprint, earned a trip to the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on March 28 with a come-from-behind victory.

“He’s had a good year of racing and training,” Biancone said of the 4-year-old by Lookin At Lucky. “He’s still a young horse for his age because he missed a year. We’re very happy with him…Even though the pace was fast, he was cruising behind them. Julien (Leparoux) rode him perfect.”

Diamond Oops improved his record to 5-for-6 at Gulfstream Park, where among those in his wake were Grade 1 winners Imperial Hint and X Y Jet. The former pressed the latter through an opening half mile in 43.85 seconds that proved simply too fast to sustain.

Imperial Hint was making his first start since being scratched with a minor foot issue from the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. In his two previous start, he notched back-to-back six-furlong victories in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga and Vosburgh (G1) at Belmont for the second year in a row.

“Seven furlongs was a little too far. That's it,” Carvajal Jr. said. “That’s all I was worried about. Javier (Castellano) 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.

Carvajal added that “this will hopefully set him up good” for the inaugural, $1.5 million Saudi Cup Sprint on Feb. 29.

“And if all goes well, we'll jump to Dubai from there,” the trainer added.

X Y Jet could also target the Golden Shaheen in what will be his 8-year-old season. The race’s defending winner similarly came off the bench earlier this year, burning out on the lead of the Sunshine Millions Sprint. He won a Gulfstream Park allowance before prevailing in Dubai.