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Diamond Stripes strikes it rich in Godolphin Mile

Diamond Stripes has found his niche as a miler (Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins) In an auspicious beginning for the American contingent on Dubai World Cup night, Four Roses Thoroughbreds' DIAMOND STRIPES (Notebook) battled back after being headed in the stretch to capture Saturday's $1 million Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2). The Richard Dutrow charge reeled off the approximate mile on the fast track at Nad al Sheba in 1:36.96, and in the process, joined the millionaires' club with $1,475,645 in earnings. At the start, it was the other American runner, Barcola (Old Trieste), who sped to the front from his far outside post, while Diamond Stripes was tucked into a perfect tracking position by Edgar Prado. Even though Barcola angled over toward the inside, he still left ample inviting room at the rail, and Prado was only too glad to maneuver Diamond Stripes to the inside of Barcola and apply pressure to the pacesetter down the backstretch. Barcola came under a ride turning for home, but Diamond Stripes continued to travel smoothly entering the stretch. Meanwhile, Rosberg (A.P. Indy) ominously cruised up to join him on the outside, and soon driving to the lead, looked the likely winner, only to tire inside the final furlong.

As Diamond Stripes found renewed energy along the rail, Elusive Warning (Elusive Quality) uncorked a stirring charge farther out, and Rosberg faded between them. Diamond Stripes kept churning out more to power to a 1 1/4-length victory.

"He fought hard all the way," Prado said. "I was really proud of him."

"When he started coming back on the leader, I knew they were in trouble," said Dutrow, who watched the Dubai races from a suite at Gulfstream Park.

Elusive Warning was himself 1 1/4 lengths clear of Don Renato (Edgy Diplomat), who prevailed in a photo-finish over Zakocity (Precocity) for third. Rosberg wound up fifth, followed by Blackat Blackitten (Inchinor [GB]), Jet Express (Jet Master), Brave Tin Soldier (Storm Cat), Green Coast (Green Desert), Halkin (Chester House), Watch What Happens (Stravinsky), Barcola, Golden Arrow (Ire)(Danehill) and Baharah (Elusive Quality). Aleutian (Zafonic) was withdrawn.

Diamond Stripes' third career stakes score advanced his record to 12-6-0-4. The winner of the 2006 Pegasus S. (G3) and last year's Meadowlands Cup (G2), he has placed third in the Stephen Foster H. (G1), Whitney H. (G1), Woodward S. (G1) and Clark H. (G2).

Bred in Florida by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Rogers Jr., Diamond Stripes brought a winning bid of $95,000 as a 2003 Keeneland November weanling and sold 10 months later for $340,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He's out of the winning Romantic Summer (On to Glory), dam of 2000 Hutcheson S. (G2) hero Summer Note and stakes winner Summer Book, who are both full brothers to Diamond Stripes. Romantic Summer has a juvenile filly named Yes It's Love (Yes It's True), an unnamed yearling colt by Yes It's True and a 2008 colt by Dehere.

Dutrow believes that the May 26 Metropolitan H. (G1) at Belmont Park could suit Diamond Stripes well.

"I think the one-turn mile was the thing that made the difference today," the trainer said. "We might have been trying to push him a little farther than he wanted to go with his mile-and-an-eighth races. Now we have to think about the Met Mile."

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