Desert Stormer Handicap 2001 – Irish Gypsy triumphs, Bob Baffert wins 3 and Martin Garcia wins 4
Father’s day proved to be a lucky day for Bob Baffert and his farm, as Irish Gypsy, a five year old mare, captured the $76,050 Desert Stormer Handicap.
Irish Gypsy provided Bob Baffert with his third win of the day at Hollywood Park, and, Jockey, Martin Garcia, who rode three of Bob Baffert’s horses on the day, won with all of them, and, registered four victories. He managed to pull off a quadruple back
in November 7, 2006.
This was Irish Gypsy’s fifth win in twelve starts and the victory in Desert Stormer Handicap was second in a row for the five year old daughter of Hennessy.
Jockey, Martin Garcia, was a satisfied man at the end of the day with four wins under his belt on the same day. He was much pleased with the performance of Irish Gypsy, who was his final mount of the day. The pair took position on the outside and kept their
composure even when Warren’s Blossom was leading the field of five horses from the outset.
Warren’s Blossom assumed the leading position for a good chunk of the race and led the race by a 1 ½ length distance with a mere furlong remaining. Hovering on the outside, Martin Garcia, and, Irish Gypsy responded well to each other’s call, and, when Martin
decided to go, she took off and managed her longest strides to fizz over the six furlongs in 1 minute and 9.67 seconds.
Owners, Mike Pegram, and, John Sikura must be ecstatic with the Irish Gypsy’s winning spree as she owned the Desert Stormer by winning her second consecutive stakes.
It was a good day for trainer, Bob Baffert, who captured a big card at Hollywood Park, which ultimately gives him an advantage over Mike Mitchell by 24 to 23 in the trainer’s race. It’s an edge over Mike Mitchell with 17 race days to go before the spring/summer
meet.
Bob Baffert and Martin Garcia felt that they should have had another win in the Desert Stormer when Da Rule lost by a neck to Sway Away in a seven furlong race.
Garcia provided Bob Baffert with three other wins with two year old Night Tide, who was starting for the first time for Bob Baffert, and, Toro Bonito, who went out to win the third race of the meet.
Irish Gypsy entered the race as a favourite among five fillies and mares. She picked up her stride late because at the start she was second last and at the top rail she started to get in rhythm and climbed up a notch in the third.
After that Garcia guided her to the outside and that was the platform she needed to win it in the stretch. The win added to her total earnings and it jumped up to $239,420.
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