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Jessamine Runner-Up Diamond Wow Possible For Breeders’ Cup

Diamond Wow, a valiant runner-up in Wednesday's Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland, is a possibility for the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar, said trainer Patrick Biancone Thursday morning.

Although the daughter of Lookin At Lucky came up just a head short of winning an automatic and fees-paid berth into the Juvenile Fillies Turf Wednesday, she proved herself to be a prime Breeders' Cup candidate.

“It's a possibility. She's going to come back home Saturday, and we'll decide from there,” said Biancone, whose stable is based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. “We don't want to force her. If she's really well, we may go.”

Biancone's daughter and assistant, Andie, who accompanied Diamond Wow to Keeneland and saddled the daughter of Lookin At Lucky, was pleased with the manner in which she exited the 1 1/16-mile turf event.

“She said she came out good,” Biancone said. “She took the race well.”

Scratched out of last last Friday's Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland after drawing the No. 11 post position, Diamond Wow – as (bad) luck would have it – drew the far-outside No 14 post for the Jessamine.

Diamond Wow rated off the early pace while racing four-wide before kicking in through the stretch to gain a narrow lead over odds-on pacesetter Turnerloose nearing the wire, only to be caught by wide and charging California Angel.

“[She ran] around the ducks, like in the morning,” Biancone quipped.

Diamond Oops went into the Jessamine undefeated in two starts at Gulfstream Park, where she scored a three-length debut victory in a five-furlong turf race Aug. 28 before scoring a 1 ¾-length triumph in the off-the-turf Our Dear Peggy Stakes at seven furlongs Sept. 18.

“To be honest with you, in that family, the good ones come to form early. The mother was like that – she won a stakes as a 2-year-old. Diamond Oops, the three-quarter brother, won at 2,” Biancone said. “I know she's going to improve. She's naturally and extremely talented. She's a very, very good filly.”

Diamond Wow, who is owned by Diamond 100 Racing Club LLC, Amy Dunne and Biancone, is out of Patriotic Diamond, a daughter of Hat Trick who broke her maiden in the Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar in her second career start. Patriotic Diamond is a half-sister to Biancone-trained Diamond Oops, a multiple graded-stakes winner with more than $1.3 million in purse earning.

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‘I Haven’t Woken Up From The Dream’: California Angel Taking Leonard To First Breeders’ Cup

Winning Wednesday's $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland as a 17-1 longshot earned California Angel a fees-paid entry and travel expenses to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to be run on Nov. 5 at Del Mar, and she became trainer George Leonard III's first graded stakes winner.

“She came back from the race in excellent shape; I couldn't ask for better,” Leonard said about the daughter of California Chrome. “I haven't made travel arrangements yet. I haven't woken up from the dream.”

Leonard had little time to celebrate the milestone victory because he had to drive California Angel back to his Indiana Grand base about 2½ hours northwest of Lexington. He also had no time to entertain any offers from those interested in purchasing the filly, a Keeneland sale graduate as a weanling who sold to current owner Chris Walsh as a 2-year-old in training.

“I put her in her stall and stayed for an hour or two to make sure she was comfortable and then went home,” Leonard said. “I didn't answer many calls after the race – only those from my immediate family. I wasn't too talkative to a lot of people. I was just enjoying my time.”

Leonard, who is from Louisiana, sent out his first starter in 1991. He said Walsh is an Indiana resident who he has known “for quite a few years.”

“They are good people who I always talked to and watched their horses run (for other trainers),” he said. “They have other trainers, and I am fortunate to have them.”

California Angel won her career debut on grass at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 8 as a 28-1 longshot. Three weeks later, she was third in a Churchill Downs allowance race on dirt in her only other start.

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California Angel Gives Trainer George Leonard First Graded Victory In Jessamine

California Angel is going to California.

So said trainer George Leonard III after Chris Walsh's daughter of California Chrome rallied from far back to post a head victory over Diamond Wow in the 31st running of the $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) for 2-year-old fillies Wednesday afternoon at Keeneland.

With the victory, California Angel earned a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 5 at Del Mar. The JPMorgan Chase Jessamine was the 10th and final Breeders' Cup Challenge race offered by Keeneland to start the 17-day Fall Meet.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, California Angel covered the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course labeled as good in 1:44.30.

California Angel was Leonard's first starter in a graded stakes. She netted Bejarano his 19th Keeneland stakes win and first here since Oct. 8, 2010, aboard Wickedly Perfect in the Darley Alcibiades (G1).

Favored Turnerloose quickly bounded out for the lead in the field of 13 as California Angel raced near the rear of the field. With Florent Geroux aboard, Turnerloose maintained a daylight advantage until upper stretch when Diamond Wow applied pressure.

At the head of the lane, California Angel had one horse beat as Bejarano swung her eight wide for a clear run at the field. She was still 5 lengths back at the eighth pole and got up in the final yards to ease by Diamond Wow and Turnerloose.

Now 2-for-2 on the turf, California Angel is a Kentucky-bred daughter of California Chrome out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Sea Mona. California Angel increased her career earnings to $213,700 with Wednesday's $120,000 check.

California Angel returned $37.60, $14 and $5.60. Diamond Wow, ridden by Mike Smith, returned $10 and $5.40 and finished a neck in front of Turnerloose, who paid $2.60 to show.

It was another length back to Dressed, who was followed in order by Opalina, Roughly a Diamond, Misthaven (IRE), Kneesnhips, Bhoma, Queen Judith, Rigby, Boxing Day and Ontheonesandtwos.

Racing continues Thursday with a 10-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

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NBC Sports To Present Final Breeders’ Cup Challenge Race From Keeneland Wednesday

Led by unbeaten Turnerloose, an overflow field of 14, including two also-eligibles, has been entered for Wednesday's $200,000 Jessamine Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Race Course with the final automatic starting position in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) up for grabs. The 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies will be televised live on NBCSN at 4 p.m. ET as a part of the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing.”

Wednesday program marks the 13th and final show in this year's “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, which will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. The Breeders' Cup World Championships television schedule appears here.

NBC Sports' coverage will feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Ahmed Fareed, analyst Randy Moss, and handicapper Matt Bernier. Reporters Britney Eurton and Nick Luck will be on-site at Keeneland.

Dawn and Ike Thrash's Turnerloose has started her career with two wins. Trained by Brad Cox, the daughter of 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist broke her maiden at 1 mile at Ellis Park on July 16 and then captured the 1-mile Aristocrat Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Kentucky Downs by five lengths on Sept. 6. Florent Geroux rides from post three.

Another runner coming off a big effort at Kentucky Downs is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Dressed, who has won two of her three starts. After breaking her maiden in her second try at Arlington Park, Dressed, trained by Wayne Catalano, came from off the pace to win a 6 ½-furlong allowance optional claiming race at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 12 by 3 ¼ lengths. Dressed will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 12.

Making a five-wide sweeping move, SF Racing's Misthaven (IRE) won on debut in a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight by 1 ¾ lengths on Sept 5 at Kentucky Downs. Breaking from post 10, Misthaven, trained by Joe Sharp, will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. Starting just to the outside of Misthaven in post 11 is Teneri Farm and J Stable's Opalina. Trained by Roderick Rodriguez, Opalina is up from Gulfstream Park in Florida, where she broke her maiden at 1 mile on Sept. 17. Opalina will be ridden by Edgard Zayas.

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