Diamond Oops gets up late to win Phoenix

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Patrick Biancone had options for run Diamond Oops this weekend at Keeneland, and there was no mistake in his calculations. The versatile gelding, under a well-timed ride from Florent Geroux, ran down ambitious 51-1 longshot Empire of Gold to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Phoenix Stakes on Friday, opening day of Keeneland’s fall meet.

This was the fourth career graded stakes victory for Diamond Oops, who won the Grade 3 Smile Stakes in June of 2019 and the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector last December, both on dirt at Gulfstream Park. He won the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint early last month at Churchill Downs, putting upcoming turf sprints, such as the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, into play. The gelding, who races for the partnership of Diamond 100 Racing Club, Biancone, Amy Dunne, and D P Racing LLC, was nominated for the Woodford and Phoenix, but ultimately his connections opted for the latter.

“He’s a multipurpose horse,” said Andie Biancone, assistant to her father. “I think he is better on the dirt.”

Diamond Oops, who became a millionaire with the Phoenix victory, earned an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Andie Biancone stopped short of committing him to that race on Friday, indicating that her father could still opt for the Turf Sprint on the same day.

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“Knowing Patrick, he’ll probably wake up a week out and make a decision based on whatever he’s feeling," she said. "Maybe he’ll flip a coin. We’ll see.”

Diamond Oops ($8.60), who was sent away favored in the Phoenix, got an ideal stalking trip down the backstretch, sitting in third and saving ground in the pocket. Meanwhile, No Parole established the lead through an opening quarter of 22.24 seconds on the fast track while hounded by Empire of Gold on his hip. The half went in 44.73, with Empire of Gold taking the lead from a fading No Parole coming to the quarter pole and opening up 2 1/2 lengths in the stretch.

Geroux maneuvered Diamond Oops three wide into the lane and commenced his drive in the clear. Meanwhile, despite holding a solid lead, Empire of Gold did not change leads and appeared to shift in slightly while tiring in the final stages. Diamond Oops caught him in the final strides and surged by for a half-length score at the wire, stopping the clock in 1:09.24 for the six furlongs.

“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 the horse as his target, I knew we were going to get him.”

Empire of Gold came into the Phoenix, his graded stakes debut, off an allowance win at Remington Park for trainer Terry Eoff. The 3-year-old colt has been on the board in nine of 10 career outings, with the only aberration coming around two turns.

“We were up against it -- 3-year-olds versus older, and we all know how hard that is to do," jockey Declan Carroll said. "We got beat by a very nice horse. He comes from Remington Park, where the stretch is a little shorter. If I rode the race again, I would have waited a bit longer to ask him for more run."

After the top two, it was two lengths back to Echo Town in third, who outfinished the rallying veteran Whitmore, who was making his fourth appearance in the Phoenix, by a head. They were followed by Absolutely Aiden, No Parole, Midnight Sands, Mo Dont No, and Lexitonian.