Diamond Oops looks to stretch out in the Pegasus World Cup
Should trainer Patrick Biancone receive an invitation to run multiple stakes-winner Diamond Oops in the Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, he will enthusiastically accept.
Multiple Grade 1 stakes-placed Diamond Oops captured the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream in his most recent start, drawing away to victory by a length after sitting off the pace in the seven-furlong sprint where multiple Grade 1 winner Imperial Hint finished third.
Although a trip to Dubai was on his post-race radar, Biancone has become increasingly interested in targeting the Pegasus World Cup that is run on the racetrack over which the 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky also captured the Smile Sprint (G3) on the June 30 Summit of Speed program.
“I’m not thinking about Dubai. I want to run him in the Pegasus,” Biancone said. “This is his home track, and there are 3 million reasons to run in the Pegasus.”
Diamond Oops, who finished second in both the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga and the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland back to back following his Smile victory, ran only once around two turns on dirt, finishing off the board after stumbling at the start in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita. Biancone has confidence in the versatility of the horse he owns in partnership with Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne and D P Racing LLC.
“I think he needs to have a fast pace in front of him,” Biancone said. “I’ve looked back at the Pegasus races and I’ve seen very fast half-miles were run.”
Biancone also reported that highly promising 3-year-old Ete Indien will be pointed to the Feb. 2 Holy Bull (G3), a Kentucky Derby prep, at Gulfstream Park.
The son of Summer Front impressively won his main-track debut at Gulfstream Park Dec. 20, capturing a mile optional claiming allowance with a front-running 2 ½-length victory over highly regarded Toledo, the Chad Brown-trained favorite.
Ete Indien previously captured his debut on turf and finished off the board in the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.