"He beat several of the best from Europe last time out," Hooper said, referring to the Turf Classic.

But when Picou phoned to tell him that Diplomatic Jet had won the Turf Classic, half a century of racing success came rushing together.

It was his first stakes victory since the Turf Classic at Belmont last October.

If With Approval passes today's race, he will instead run in the Turf Classic at Belmont Oct. 7.

At Churchill Downs in April, he set a track record for a mile and one-sixteenth in the Turf Classic.

Wins included the 1994 Turf Classic and Breeders' Cup Turf.

The Turf Classic was his first victory in four starts this year.

In the Turf Classic, the pace was set by another British star, Adam Smith, who led for most of the first mile.

He won his second Rothmans International and was third to John Henry in the Turf Classic.

The Turf Classic was just as melodramatic.