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Diamond Oops To Prep For Smile Sprint Defense In Sunday’s Opening Lead Stakes

Multiple graded-stakes winner Diamond Oops will face six rivals in Sunday's $60,000 Opening Lead at Gulfstream Park while prepping for a title defense in the Sept. 5 Smile Sprint (G3).

The Patrick Biancone-trained 5-year-old earned graded-stakes credentials with an off-the-pace three-quarters of a length triumph in last year's Smile, which the son of Lookin At Lucky used as a springboard for back-to-back Grade 1 second-place finishes in New York and Kentucky in his next two starts.

This year, Biancone has no plans to stray from South Florida in the foreseeable future.

“We decided to stay and run here and then the Smile,” said Biancone, who had entertained the idea of running Diamond Oops in the July 4 Met Mile (G1) at Belmont. “Last year, there was no Covid-19. Andie, my daughter, travels with the horses. I don't want to take the risk that she gets sick or something.”

Biancone, whose daughter serves as his assistant at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, is looking for Diamond Oops to improve off his second-place finish as the even-money favorite in the June 13 Coaltown Handicap, in which he conceded seven pounds to victorious Eye of a Jedi while making his first start in nearly five months.

“He had no excuse. The winner came on the outside and he didn't see him. It was a good race,” Biancone said.

Last year, after winning the Smile, Diamond Oops went on to finish second behind Imperial Hint in the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga and a game second in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland. He subsequently finished a troubled eighth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) before concluding the 2019 season with a victory in the Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream for Diamond 100 Racing Club LLC, D P Racing LLC, Patrick Biancone Racing LLC and Amy Dunne.

Although a one-turn specialist, Diamond Oops ran in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, acquitting himself nicely with a fourth-place finish in a field of 10.

Luca Panici, who rode Diamond Oops for the first time in the Coaltown Handicap, has the return mount in Sunday's six-furlong overnight stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

Monarch Stables Inc.'s Art G is Back is scheduled to be back in action Sunday after a seven-month layoff. The 4-year-old son of Exchange Rate had a busy and successful 3-year-old campaign, in which he won a pair of stakes and placed in fourth other stakes.

“He looks fabulous. The rest did him good,” trainer Ron Spatz said. “Hopefully, he runs well.”

Art G is Back ran 13 times at distances between seven furlongs and 1 1/16 miles, winning four of six starts over the Gulfstream Park main track, including two stakes wins at seven furlongs.

“He's never run six furlongs. I think it's a little bit short. This is a spot to jump off,” said Spatz, who also saddled Art G is Back for three stakes placings on turf.

Miguel Vasquez, who was aboard for Art G is Back's victory in the Thirsty Fish last year, will be reunited with the Florida-bred colt.

Jacks or Better Farm Inc.'s Garter and Tie will seek his first victory in six starts since capturing the Ocala Stakes by 10 ½ lengths prior to finishing fifth behind Diamond Oops in last year's Smile. The 4-year-old homebred son of Brooks 'n Down has captured three stakes over the Gulfstream track, including the $200,000 Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed in 2018.

Emisael Jaramillo has the call on the Ralph Nicks-trained half-brother to Shivaree, who finished second in the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby (G1).

Imaginary Stables and Glenn K. Ellis' Royal Squeeze, who finished fourth in last year's Smile, will seek his 11th career win over the Gulfstream track Sunday. The Elizabeth Dobles-trained 8-year-old gelding has won four stakes at Gulfstream and is coming off a May 31 optional claiming allowance victory.

Victor Lebron has the return call aboard the won of Wildcat Heir.

Mi Tres Por Ciento, a multiple-stakes winner in Chile who won his U.S. debut at Gulfstream three starts back, is scheduled to make his first start for owners Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher and trainer Michael Maker after being claimed for $62,500 out of his most recent start.

Edgard Zayas has the call aboard in the 5-year-old gelding.

My Purple Haze Stables' Cool Arrow and Linda Riznick's Running for Riz round out the field.

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Saturday Insights: Deep Juvenile Races on Both Coasts

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

CATALANO UNVEILS CARPE DIEM SIBLING

1st-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET
A pair of loaded 2-year-old maidens–one on each coast–serve as appetizers to the major stakes Saturday. Coffepot Stables homebred REGULAR GUY (Bernardini) features at the Spa for Wayne Catalano. The dark bay is a half to multiple Grade I winner and young sire Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway), as well as to additional GISW J. B.’s Thunder (Thunder Gulch), MGSW & GISP Farrell (Malibu Moon), and two other graded stakes horses. Regular Guy faces $700,000 KEESEP purchase Olympiad (Speightstown), who makes his debut for the Bill Mott barn and is from the bottomless Emory Hamilton family of champion Chic Shirine (Mr. Prospector). His dam is a half-sister to the dam of last year’s GI Woodward S. winner Preservationist (Arch). Windcracker (Super Saver)‘s dam is out of a full-sister to GISW Include (Broad Brush), while Zunith Moon (Malibu Moon) is from the immediate family of GISW Cupid (Tapit). Freshman sires are also heavily represented with Reddam Racing homebred Team Merchants (Nyquist), $375,000 KEESEP buy Outlier (Not This Time), and $280,000 OBSMAR purchase and :20 4/5 breezer Reinvestment Risk (Upstart). TJCIS PPs

FULL TO HENLEY’S JOY DEBUTS

3rd-DMR, 55K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, post time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Eoin Harty unveils EL JOY (Kitten’s Joy) for Equilete Stables. The full-brother to last year’s GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. winner Henley’s Joy also hails from the extended family of 2019 hot juvenile and GSW Dennis’ Moment (Tiznow). Vittorio (Ghostzapper) breezed :9 4/5 at OBS in June before fetching $750,000 as the fifth-highest price of the sale. Simon Callaghan debuts him for Kaleem Shah. Trainer Ryan Hanson sends Epidemic (Orb), a half-brother to MGSW Stanford (Malibu Moon) and SW & MGSP Hedge Fund (Super Saver) from the extremely deep sire family of champions Johannesburg (Hennessy) and Minardi (Boundary), as well as GSWs Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat) and Pulpit (A.P. Indy). Bob Baffert always has his firsters firing on all cylinders for Del Mar. Freedom Fighter (Violence) has issued three bullets in his last five works, including a :47 half (1/102) where the turf meets the surf July 25. TJCIS PPs

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A Glorious Send-Off

Goodwood’s Qatar Festival has lived up to its “Glorious” tag all week and Saturday sees the culmination with the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. the key race for the staying fillies and mares. Despite there being only four participants, they are all notable performers in the category and last year’s winner Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) will have to be at or near her best to bring up the repeat. Twelve months ago, the Shadwell representative gave a stone and a five-length beating to Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), defying the anchor of a combination of weight-for-age and a penalty here prior to adding Doncaster’s G2 Park Hill S. to her tally. Perhaps undone by testing ground when third in the G1 Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp and fourth in the 12-furlong G2 Princess of Wales’s S. on her seasonal bow at Newmarket July 9, she has ideal conditions again here.

Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold is looking for improvement from her comeback effort.

“I thought she stayed on well in the last part of the race at Newmarket,” he explained. “It was her first run of the year, the trip was a bit short and the ground was soft enough for her as well. Hopefully, the ground will be on the quick side on Saturday, which will certainly help her. She is showing incredible enthusiasm and has this extraordinary action. You can never take anything for granted, but I would hope she’ll put her best foot forward.”

Since her heavy defeat in this last year, Manuela de Vega has come back at four a different proposition but had soft ground to suit when taking Haydock’s G3 Pinnacle S. June 7 and G2 Lancashire Oaks July 5 over a mile and a half. She gets the three-pound penalty as a result this time, which makes it all the harder for her to deal with Enbihaar but trainer Ralph Beckett is willing to give it a go.

“She’s in very good shape and we’re hoping she can go one better than last year,” he said. “We think she’s pretty adaptable ground-wise–I don’t think it makes too much difference to her. It won’t be easy giving the penalty away, but it’s feasible.”

Aside from that duo, the 3-year-olds Snow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Cabaletta (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) are worthy of respect with the former coming in on the back of a fifth in the G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh a fortnight ago and Cheveley Park Stud’s TDN Rising Star Cabaletta also backing up quickly having won Newbury’s Listed Aphrodite S. over a mile and a half on the same day.

Deauville ramps up the action as the August Festival gets underway in earnest, with the G3 Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing and G3 Prix de Psyche Sky Sports Racing enjoying a share of the focus. In the former for 2-year-old fillies, Sean Mulryan, Linda Shanahan and Susan Magnier’s unbeaten See The Rose (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) returns to the scene of her smooth six-furlong conditions success July 12. She has to deal with Godolphin’s Wedding Dance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a member of Charlie Appleby’s academy which always does well here and she impressed with a 3 1/4-length success in a Newmarket maiden over this seven-furlong trip July 11.

“We were very pleased with Wedding Dance last time out, when she won nicely and she came out of the race well. This looks a nice opportunity for her to step up in grade,” her trainer said.

In the Psyche over a mile and a quarter, Shadwell’s Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}) will be a warm order, having finished a short neck and two head margins behind the subsequent G1 Nassau S. winner Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) when fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane over 10 1/2 furlongs at Chantilly July 5. Again, Godolphin are at the fore with the Andre Fabre-trained Alkandora (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who took ParisLongchamp’s Listed Prix Melisande also over 10 1/2 furlongs last time July 2.

“Alkandora is in good form and has done really well since her last race,” Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard said. “She will appreciate a step up in trip in time, but Andre is very happy with her condition and she deserves a try at this level.”

Also in the mix is Tweenhills Fillies and Meridian International’s impressive June 7 Listed Pretty Polly Fillies’ S. winner Run Wild (Ger) (Amaron {GB}), who will be more at home back at that trip having finished last in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 20.

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Neil Walsh Joins Goffs

Neil Walsh has been appointed to the Goffs bloodstock team and will start in his new position in August. Walsh, who stepped down from his position in Tattersalls Ireland in February, will take up a vendor liaison role and join the inspection panel for all National Hunt and Flat sales, beginning with the November Foal Sale in addition to the December NH Sale.

“Neil is an excellent addition to the dynamic bloodstock and inspection teams at Goffs, and I have no doubt he is a perfect fit, combining experience and knowledge with a hands-on approach that is the hallmark of the modern day Goffs,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby.

Walsh spent 12 years at Tattersalls Ireland as director of bloodstock, inspecting stock for the National Hunt store and point to point sales in Ireland, Cheltenham and Ascot as well as yearlings, foals and breeze up horses for the Flat sales at Fairyhouse and Newmarket. He also served on the International Cataloguing Standards Committee, the ITBA National Hunt Committee and the Drugs Task Force. Walsh previously spent six years in the racing department of Horse Racing Ireland, including four years as a customer relations representative.

“It is with great enthusiasm that I take on this new role and look forward to contributing to the superb reputation of Goffs across their wide portfolio of market leading sales,” added Walsh.

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