Undefeated Khozmore Scores 3rd Dominating Win in Feature
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – 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.
Undefeated Khozmore Scores 3rd Dominating Win in Feature
Windylea Farm LLC’s Khozmore remained undefeated by scoring her third straight dominating victory Thursday at Gulfstream Park, where the 3-year-old daughter of Khozan overwhelmed a field of battle-tested fillies and mares in the featured optional claiming allowance.
Trained by Kathleen O’Connell, Khozmore rated just off the pace contested by Restofthestory and Liza Star before moving to the lead on the turn into the homestretch with a three-wide move under Luca Panici. The $150,000 2020 OBS April sale purchase went on to draw away to a 3 ¾-length victory.
“She’s special. She was special when she was 2. It broke my heart that she missed the [FBTOA Florida Sire Stakes series]. She had a few things going on and needed time,” O’Connell said.
Khozmore ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.41 to record a comfortable win in the Race 5 feature, drawing comparisons to O’Connell-trained Lady Shipman, whom she saddled for multiple stakes victories and a second-place finish in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
“The greatest thing about Lady Shipman was her brain. We took her all over the place and she just oozed class,” O’Connell said. “This filly is the same way – a good mind, a good demeanor and class.”
Khozmore made her belated debut at Gulfstream Aug. 8, drawing away to a 7 ½-length victory in a six-furlong maiden optional claimer. She came right back to win a 6 ½-furlong entry-level optional claiming allowance by 3 ½ lengths Aug. 28.
Lea Farms LLC’s Lightening Larry ($12.80) rebounded from a disappointing finish in the $200,000 Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed Aug. 28 to upset 1-5 favorite Muted at Gulfstream Park in Thursday’s co-featured optional claiming allowance for 2-year-olds.
The Jeff Engler-trained son of Uncaptured closely stalked Muted, a Tom Proctor-trained son of Into Mischief, into the stretch before steadily wearing down the favorite to win by a half-length under Romero Maragh. Lightening Larry faded badly after pressing the early pace to finish ninth behind Octane in the Affirmed. The Florida-bred colt defeated Octane by two lengths while graduating in his previous start.
Lightening Larry ran six furlongs in 1:10.96 in the Race 5 co-feature.
Muted, who was purchased by Glen Hill Farm for $450,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale, was coming off an eye-catching 7 ¼-length debut victory at Gulfstream Sept. 3.
For info on the Best Breeders’ Cup Seminar click HERE.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Khozmore (Ryan Thompsan)
