Keeneland | Horse Racing Free Tips

Versatile Diamond Oops Runs Down Longshot Empire Of Gold In Phoenix

Last-out winner of the G2 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs, the versatile 3-1 favorite Diamond Oops made the switch back to the dirt on Friday when he won the G3 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland. The 5-year-old son of Lookin at Lucky ran six furlongs over the fast dirt in 1:09.24, besting 51-1 longshot Empire of Gold by three-quarters of a length on the wire. Trained by Pat Biancone and ridden by Florent Geroux, Diamond Oops is campaigned by the Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, D P Racing and Patrick L. Biancone Racing.

The victory earned Diamond Oops an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Sprint next month, also at Keeneland.

Grade 1 winner No Parole sped out of the starting gate to grab the early lead, while Remington Park invader Empire of Gold moved up to add pressure through early fractions of :22.24 and :44.73. Echo Town and Diamond Oops were just behind the frontrunners early, while veteran Whitmore and Ohio-bred millionaire Mo Don't No tracked in mid-pack.

Rounding the far turn, Empire of Gold grabbed the lead away from No Parole and opened up by several lengths. Diamond Oops took up the chase, but looked to have too much to do with three-sixteenths of a mile to run.

Instead, when Geroux gave the gelding his cue, Diamond Oops dug in gamely and drew even with his rival. Empire of Gold switched to the wrong lead late, trying to find more, but Diamond Oops pushed past to hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front. Empire of Gold had to settle for second, while Echo Town was game late to deny Whitmore for third. Absolutely Aiden was fifth.

Bred in Kentucky by Kin Hui Racing Stables, Diamond Oops is out of the stakes-winning Whywhywhy mare Patriotic Viva. He started showing up in a big way last year, winning the G3 Smile Sprint on dirt before running second in both the G1 Vanderbilt (dirt) and the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile. He was eighth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile before rebounding to win the G3 Mr. Prospector.

This year, Diamond Oops has not finished worse than fourth in four starts, and his overall record stands at 7-3-1 from 16 starts for earnings of over $1 million.

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Tiz The Law Breezes Quick Five Furlongs In :57.87 On Friday At Belmont Park

Sackatoga Stable's New York-bred hero Tiz the Law breezed a bullet five-furlongs in 57.87 seconds on Friday morning at Belmont Park.

Piloted by exercise rider Heather Smullen over the fast main track, the four-time Grade 1-winning son of Constitution worked under overcast skies and light rain in preparation for his next engagement, which is scheduled to take place in the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland.

“I didn't want to see him go that fast, but he came out of the work well,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “He scoped well and everything is going good with him.”

Tiz the Law has put together a notable sophomore campaign which includes victories in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park, the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20, where he became the first Empire State-bred to win the American Classic in 138 years, and the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 8 at Saratoga Race Course.

Tiz the Law was a last-out second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on September 5 at Churchill Downs, which Tagg and Sackatoga won in 2003 with New York-bred Funny Cide.

Tagg said Tiz the Law would likely work back either next Friday or Saturday.

During his juvenile campaign, Tiz the Law was a first-out winner against his New York-bred counterpart exactly one calendar year prior to his Runhappy Travers triumph en route to a score in the Grade 1 Champagne last October at Belmont Park. A $110,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearling Sale, Tiz the Law has amassed $2,615,300 in purse earnings.

Bred in the Empire State by Twin Creeks Farm, Tiz the Law is out of the Tiznow broodmare Tizfiz.

Tagg is poised for a potentially exciting weekend as he will saddle contenders in a pair of graded stakes on Saturday at Belmont.

Hayward Pressman, Diamond M Stable and Donna Pressman's Step Dancer will try open company in the Grade 2, $150,000 Pilgrim at 1 1/16-miles on the turf for juveniles.

Step Dancer posted a 3 ½-length upset win on debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden event for state-breds over a Mellon turf course at Saratoga rated good. The 2-year-old son of War Dancer came from 11 lengths off the pace to secure the win at 24-1 odds.

“He's a New York-bred and I've had some New York-breds do pretty well against open company,” Tagg quipped. “He won his first start rather easily, so we put him in the Pilgrim.”

Bred in New York by Sugar Plum Farm and Richard Pressman, Step Dancer is out of the English Channel mare Just Be Steppin. Jockey Dylan Davis was up for the debut win and will return aboard Step Dancer from post 7 in the eight-horse field.

Joyce B. Young, Gerald McManis and Jerrie Stewart McManis' Highland Sky will attempt an elusive Grade 1 victory in Saturday's 12-furlong $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, a race where he finished fourth in 2018.

The 7-year-old dark bay son of Sky Mesa came close to striking Grade 1 gold during his sophomore campaign, where he was second beaten a neck in the 2016 Belmont Derby Invitational.

An 8 ¼-length winner of last year's John's Call at Saratoga, which was taken off the turf, Highland Sky arrives at the Joe Hirsch off a runner-up placing in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on August 1 at Saratoga.

“He's an old timer now but I've always wanted to win the Joe Hirsch,” Tagg said. “He'll be in pretty tough. He likes soft turf and he likes the mud if they take it off the grass.”

Highland Sky boasts a solid pedigree that Tagg is quite familiar with. He trained the graded stakes-placed dam Kristi With a K, who also produced graded stakes placed Tagg trainee Highland Glory – a full sister to Highland Sky – as well as Grade 1 winners Miss Josh and Bit of Whimsy, and graded stakes winners Highland Springs and Highland Crystal.

“That family has been very good to us over the years,” Tagg said.

Highland Sky boasts lifetime earnings of $781,044 in a 29-5-4-5 career. He will be ridden by Junior Alvarado, who has been aboard the horse for his last two efforts.

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Newspaperofrecord, Beau Recall Rematch in First Lady

Appearing well on her way to a divisional championship, Klaravich Stables’ Newspaperofrecord (Ire) hit a roadblock named Beau Recall (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) last time out, and the two will face off once more in a six-horse renewal of Saturday’s GI First Lady S. at Keeneland, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Filly & Mare Turf.

Runner-up for a Champion Juvenile Filly Eclipse Award after a dominant 2018 campaign that culminated in a 6 3/4-length GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf romp, Newspaperofrecord had a lost 3-year-old campaign, running second as a prohibitive favorite in the GIII Edgewood S. and GIII Wonder Again S. before a disastrous last-place run in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. Returning after 11 months on the shelf, the ‘TDN Rising Star’ looked like her old self with a four-length score in the GIII Intercontinental S. and three-length success in the GI Just A Game S. at Belmont. Left alone on the lead at 1-2 in the GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. Sept. 5, she was overhauled late with no visible excuse.

The bay faces other speed in here, which could set up Beau Recall for a long overdue Grade I victory. Placing in the GI Del Mar Oaks as a 3-year-old, she added runner-up finishes in the Just A Game and GI Rodeo Drive S. last season and was second to Newspaperofrecord in this year’s Just A Game. Fifth at 6-5 in the GII Yellow Ribbon H. Aug. 8 at Del Mar, she bounced back with an 8-1 upset in the Distaff Turf Mile, her fourth Grade II success.

It’s now or never for champion Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) to get her 6-year-old campaign on track. Annexing the GI Matriarch S. to close out 2018, the chestnut went three-for-four last year, including a score in this race and a fast-finishing triumph over males in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile to wrap up her Champion Turf Female title in a loaded year for the division. This year though, she ran an even third in the Just A Game at even-money and never made any impact in an uncharacteristically dull seventh in the GI Fourstardave H. Aug. 22 at Saratoga.

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Keeneland Features Nourish Lexington as Fall Meet Charity

During the Fall Meet, which opened Friday and runs through Oct. 24, Keeneland will continue to support and raise funds for Nourish Lexington, which uses the skills and resources of food service and hospitality employees displaced by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to provide nutritious meals for people in need. Nourish Lexington is Keeneland’s featured Fall Meet charity.

Although Keeneland currently remains closed to spectators due to ongoing coronavirus concerns, Keeneland at Home fans and Keeneland Watch Party attendees will also have the opportunity to support Nourish Lexington, which was launched in April.

In addition, Keeneland will support the community in the barn area every Wednesday and Sunday of the meet with Nourish the Backstretch, an extension of Nourish Lexington.

“While this Fall Meet will certainly feel different, Keeneland’s steadfast commitment to supporting our community and our industry remains unchanged,” Keeneland president and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We are excited to use the season to amplify the good works of our community and industry partners and also raise much-needed funds for worthwhile causes.”

Click to learn more about Nourish Lexington and to donate to the effort.

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