Lady of Shamrock treks east for New York

A change in scenery might help the talented Lady of Shamrock (Benoit Photos) After a strong sophomore campaign in 2012, Lady of Shamrock was expected to be a leading force in the female turf division in Southern California this season. Following three races where she failed to cross the finish line first, the Scat Daddy filly has joined trainer John Sadler at Belmont Park where she hopes to see a form reversal in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 New York over 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf. After back-to-back Grade 1 wins last summer in the American Oaks and Del Mar Oaks, Lady of Shamrock concluded 2012 with a decent fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which she entered without the benefit of a prep. An even-money favorite to take the March 24 Santa Ana in her seasonal bow, the dark bay could only rally for second after a slow start, and an odds-on victory in the April 20 Santa Barbara was only secured in the stewards’ room when Lady of Shamrock was elevated from second to first through the disqualification of Viva Carina for interference of the heavy favorite.

Lady of Shamrock made her most recent appearance in the May 27 Gamely at
Hollywood Park over 1 1/8 miles, where she fell 11 lengths behind the leaders
before rallying for third, 4 1/4 lengths adrift of the tough older mare
Marketing Mix. She will have Rajiv Maragh in the saddle for her Belmont debut.

“The
reason why we’re headed to Belmont is because it’s become apparent she wants to
run longer, and there is no race at a mile and a quarter in California,” Sadler
said. “I think she’ll do well on the larger turf course, and she’s in good form,
even though she was third the other day (in the Gamely).
I’m actually
looking forward to possibly trying her over less-than-firm ground. My concern is
the same always: we’d prefer that she had some pace in front of her, and you
don’t always get that in these races.”

The 1 3/8-mile Sheepshead Bay, contested over soft ground on May 25, was a
longshot-dominated affair, and five of the New York entrants exit that heat.
Tannery, a Group 3 winner in Ireland last season, appeared to relish the
conditions when posting the 10-1 upset for her first U.S. win. Following that
one under the wire were Anjaz and Minakshi, former European mainstays with less
loftier credentials.

“I
hope she runs as well as she did last time,” said Alan Goldberg, the trainer of
Tannery. “I wish she was carrying more weight, but she’s training well, eating
well, and doing well. I expect her to run a good race. I think she likes a
little give in the ground, but she should run well as long as it’s not too
hard.”

Mystical Star is seeking to become the first back-to-back winner of the New York in nearly 50 years (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) Two mares that ran below par in the Sheepshead Bay were Mystical Star, the 2012 New York winner who weakened to fifth, and the multiple Grade 3-winning Starformer, who tracked the leader to the top of the stretch before stopping to a crawl in the final quarter-mile. “Most of the better fillies finished far back (in the Sheepshead Bay),” said Christophe Clement, the trainer of Mystical Star. “She looks solid, looks well, so let’s go on again.” French Group 2 winner Dream Peace is still seeking her first win in North America despite placing in the Flower Bowl, the Diana, and two editions of the E.P. Taylor. The Dansili mare was upset as the odds-on choice in the May 4 Beaugay, weakening to third after making the lead with more than furlong to go.

The field is completed by Regalo Mia, who
captured the 1 1/2-mile Orchid at Gulfstream Park in March and most recently
finished in the Bewitch at Keeneland at the same distance.

Multiple Grade 2 winner Kauai Katie figures to
be a solid choice in the Grade 3, $150,000
Victory
Ride despite a recent seven-length defeat in the May 27 Acorn over a mile.
One of three Todd Pletcher-trained fillies in the six-furlong dash, she’ll be
joined by the multiple stakes-winning Fusaichiswonderful, a close second in the
Eight Belles last time, and by the Grade 1-placed Teen Pauline, who disappointed
in her allowance comeback June 5.

“I didn’t
think she ran badly in the Acorn from the rail,” said Pletcher of Kauai Katie.
“She was never in a great position and was getting a lot of dirt in her face,
and she’d never really been in that situation. I thought she ran hard.”

I’m Mom’s Favorite, who came from 11 lengths
down to win the May 17 Miss Preakness at Pimlico by a nose, should also attract
play.

“Her
last race was not at all what I expected — I thought she would break and be
close to the leaders, instead she was far back and come on,” trainer Tony Dutrow
said. “Saturday, I would expect she would be a bit off the pace. It’d be
fantastic is she was able to win or place in a graded stakes.”

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