Irish Gypsy just holds in A Gleam

The Hollywood Park stewards were forced to get the magnifying glass

out yet again on Saturday following the conclusion of the $200,000

A

Gleam H. (G2).

Earlier on the card, the judges were unable to separate Cambina (Ire)

(Hawk Wing) and Nereid (Rock Hard Ten) in the American Oaks (G1). In the

A Gleam, they somehow found a sliver of daylight between the muzzle of Ultra Blend (Richly Blended)

and the wire, which saw pacesetter IRISH GYPSY (Hennessy) earn her first

graded win.

"She's had some small issues, ankles and little things off and on,"

said trainer Bob Baffert's assistant Mike Marlow after the stable's

meet-high eighth stakes victory. "But we've got her rolling now. She's

had some time to develop. She's getting stronger as she gets older.

She's better now than she's ever been. It was close. I thought it might

be a dead heat."

Irish Gypsy wasn't quickest from the gate, but quickly pulled her way

into contention between rivals on the front end. Jockey Martin Garcia

allowed her to split horses and grab the lead, and the pair settled down

to reel off splits of :22 4/5 and :45 3/5. Mildly Offensive (Sharp Humor)

took up a stalking position to her outside, while Tanda (Sweetsouthernsaint)

also kept in range while three wide.

Irish Gypsy began her racing career in 2008, but didn't break her

maiden until making her sophomore bow in 2009. She racked up a pair of

allowance wins that season before wrapping up her three-year-old season

with a runner-up placing in her stakes debut, the Cascapedia S., at

Santa Anita during the fall. The bay nearly skipped her entire

four-year-old campaign, not reappearing until showing up to be second

once again in the California State Fair Sprint H. last July 17. She

wouldn't be seen in competition again until making her five-year-old

debut in the Time to Leave S. at Hollywood on May 1, where yet another

runner-up effort was added to her record.

Irish Gypsy finally put it all together when shipping to Lone Star

Park for the May 30 Valid Expectations S., and has now captured her past

three after also taking the Desert Stormer H. prior to Saturday's

victory. The bay improved her overall record to 14-6-4-1 and has now

bankrolled $359,420.

Bred in Kentucky by Jerry and Ann Moss, the Mike Pegram and John

Sikura colorbearer brought $120,000 as a Keeneland September yearling.

She is out of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Rayelle (Relaunch), making

her a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Piscitelli (Victory Gallop), an

unraced sophomore colt named Indian Agent (Giacomo), an unnamed yearling

filly by Candy Ride (Arg) and a 2011 Zensational colt.