DEL MAR, Calif.— Most people will recognize her from her work as a reporter and race analyst on TVG but if Andie Biancone has her way, more will soon get to know her as a trainer of winning race horses at Del Mar.
The 24-year-old daughter of accomplished horse trainer Patrick Biancone is overseeing a small string of her father’s horses at Del Mar this summer. Small in numbers, big in names. It includes Diamond Oops, a 7-year-old multiple-graded stakes winner with earnings exceeding $1.4 million.
“He was a little disappointing in the Bing Crosby,” Andie says. “I think he was just a little tired after the traveling and the prep race. We’ll probably have to switch him back to the turf which is kinder for him.”
Diamond Oops’ resume includes wins in the 2019 G3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the 2020 G2 Turf Sprint on Derby Day at Churchill Downs and the 2020 G2 Phoenix at Keeneland. But he hasn’t been back to the winner’s circle since June of last year.
Biancone tends to her horses in the morning, which generally requires a wake-up call before the sun rises. Then she shifts over to her reporter role in the afternoon. It’s a tough schedule, one that fellow trainer, Ron Ellis, can empathize with. He did the same thing with TVG for several years until 2020.
“It’s a little bit of a grueling schedule because there’s homework to do for the TV,” Ellis says. “You don’t just go straight from working in the morning to the afternoon. It was a hectic schedule but I enjoyed it so it didn’t seem like work.“
Andie feels the same way. She says while her long-term goal has always been to become a horse trainer, she hopes to continue doing both. Her father couldn’t be more proud.
“My wife was a TV broadcaster for many years,” Biancone says, “and I’m a trainer. So she (Andie) took half and half of us. It’s great and we’re very happy with her.”
Like many out-of-town trainers, Andie Biancone is here in part because of the “Ship & Win” program that rewards trainers who bring horses from other states. Her job at TVG is another reason and then there’s dad.
“My dad always likes to keep the old ball and chain on me,” she jokes. “But I wouldn’t want it any other way; this is what I love to do.”
She also loves being at Del Mar.
“It’s great here, the barns are awesome, the horses are happy, the track’s very bouncy. Yeah, very happy to be here.”
Notes: Jockey Tyler Baze is scheduled to appear before the stewards Friday after not showing up for work Thursday. He was taken off his remaining five mounts after he missed the first race and, according to Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form, failed to call the stewards until the seventh race…Trainer Leonard Powell says his multiple-graded stakes winner Neige Blanche will return to defend her title in the CTT & TOC Stakes next Friday. The French-bred has won four-of-her-last-five races dating back to last fall’s G3 Red Carpet Handicap at Del Mar…Flightline is expected to put in his weekly work Saturday morning. Trainer John Sadler says he will have his undefeated colt out on the track around 6:30 AM. Flightline is being pointed to the G1 TVG Pacific Classic September 3…Notable works for Friday: Dirt – Forbidden Kingdom (3f, 36:40); High Connection (4f, 48.60); Express Train (5f, 1:01.40); Heywoods Beach (5f, 1:01.40); In all, 160 horses put in official works Friday.
DMTC Press Release
Photo: Andie Biancone (right) and her father, trainer Patrick Biancone (Coglianese)
