Geroux finds way through the pack on Diamond Oops to win fifth of the day in Turf Sprint

Give Florent Geroux a high five. After winning the Kentucky Oaks aboard longshot Shedaresthedevil, and before that the La Troienne on Monomoy Girl, he came right back in the finale on Friday at Churchill Downs and rallied from last to first aboard Diamond Oops in the Grade 2, $250,000 Turf Sprint, giving Geroux his fifth victory of the day.

Diamond Oops ($10), cutting back from a mile dirt race and sprinting on turf for only the third time in his 14-race career, trailed early but rallied along the hedge in upper stretch, overtook 2-1 favorite Extravagant Kid in deep stretch, and was best by a neck.

Extravagant Kid was second by one length, with pace-pressing Just Might third. Chaps, who finished fourth, deserved a better fate. He ran into traffic trouble while rallying a furlong out, losing his best chance.

Real News was fifth, then came, in order, Smart Remark, Carotari, Jazzy Times, Chief Cicatriz, Tell Your Daddy, Fielder, and Wellabled. Bound for Nowhere, High Crime, and Tiger Blood all were scratched.

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The win was the sixth in 15 starts for Diamond Oops, whose previous wins all had been in dirt sprints, including last year in the Mr. Prospector and Smile, both Grade 3 races at Gulfstream Park. He most recently had run in a one-mile handicap at Gulfstream on June 13, his lone start since January.

Diamond Oops had run three times previously on turf, twice in sprints, without success. But this was the first time Geroux climbed aboard, and on Friday that was seemingly what mattered most at Churchill Downs.

Diamond Oops shipped in from Florida with Kentucky Derby entrant Sole Volante. Both are trained by Patrick Biancone, whose daughter, Andie, is overseeing both runners in Kentucky.

“Oh my God this horse is everything to me,” Andie Biancone told the pool reporters at Churchill Downs. “I mean, he’s my best friend.”

Patrick Biancone owns Diamond Oops along with Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, and Deron Pearson’s D P Racing.

Diamond Oops, 5, is a gelding by Lookin At Lucky. He earned $144,150 on Friday and now has career earnings of $938,590.