Surface No Issue For Biancone's Diamond Duo

Apparently the ability to handle both dirt and grass runs in the family for the 6-year-old gelding Diamond Oops and his 2-year-old “niece” Diamond Wow.

The Patrick Biancone trainees arrived at Keeneland Tuesday, and Wednesday morning both horses visited the Paddock before conducting their morning exercise on the all-weather training track with Biancone’s daughter and assistant, Andie, handling the riding duties.

Diamond Oops is entered to run in Saturday’s Keeneland Turf Mile (G1), while Diamond Wow will be redirected to next Wednesday’s JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) on the turf instead of running in Friday’s Darley Alcibiades (G1) on the dirt.

“The 11 post is a little tough,” Andie Biancone said of opting out of Friday’s race with the undefeated Diamond Wow, who is owned by Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne and Patrick Biancone. “This will give her more time to settle in. She has won on both surfaces.”

Diamond Oops, owned by Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, D P Racing and Patrick Biancone, also has excelled on both surfaces. He won the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) on dirt here last fall.

“He ran well at Kentucky Downs (in the FanDuel Turf Sprint-G3) and that prepared him for this,” Biancone said. “He is 6 now and the turf is a kinder surface for him. We know he enjoys the turf here after running second in the Turf Mile two years plus the Turf is $750,000 versus $250,000 (for the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix).”

Both runners are offspring of Lookin At Lucky. Diamond Wow’s dam, Patriotic Diamond, is a half-sister to Diamond Oops.

“Patriotic Diamond is the first horse I ever galloped,” Biancone said. “Her daughter is extremely professional, precocious and well-behaved. She does everything right. Everything is easy for her.”