Irish Gypsy lands her first graded stakes win and a spot in the Breeders’ Cup in the A Gleam Handicap at Ultra Bend's expense
Bob Baffert trained Irish Gypsy went on to win her third consecutive stakes' win by winning the $200,000, Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park on 16 July.
Irish Gypsy, under Martin Garcia, held off a late run, which gave ample time for favoured Ultra Bend to gain as much ground as she could.
It was a lengthy review by the stewards to determine the race.
The finish line photo seemed to be not enough as evidence, but somehow they came to a conclusion that Irish Gypsy won it by a nose. It was that close.
There was not much to separate the two mares, as they ran their heart out to reach the wire first.
At the end of the race, the 5 to 1 favourite was declared the winner who completed the six furlong distance in 1 minute and 22.44 seconds over the Cushion Track.
The five-year-old Hennessy mare, battled throughout the six furlong distance with the multiple stakes winner Ultra Bend, which came down to a photo line finish.
Well-earned winner deserve a just reward and the five-year-old was more than content after punching a ticket for the Grade 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
The automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup was a reward for winning the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup challenge series race.
One dead-heat finish came after the other at Hollywood Park, first one was between Nereid and Cambina in the $250,000 Grade 1 American Oaks where it came down to the wire and now the A Gleam Handicap.
It hasn’t happened since 2002 at Hollywood Park.
Jockey Martin Garcia bagged another graded stakes win in the A Gleam Handicap as he was all praise for his mare Irish Gypsy.
He states that his horse was improving day by day and further added that he let Irish Gypsy break on her terms and run where she wanted to run.
He believed that there was more pace on offer then she actually showed in the race, but was just enough to claim the race and earn a Breeders’ Cup spot.
It took the stewards 5 minute to decide the winner, and it turned out to be a tough decision for them because of the Breeders’ Cup spot on the line.
The multiple stakes winner, the 7 to 2 Ultra Bend, was valiant in defeat.
The unfortunate mare just had a tough competitor to contend with, but she finished second 1 ¼ lengths clear of Tanda, who finished third.
Irish Gypsy improved her career starts with six wins out of fourteen starts and banked on $359,420 after the A Gleam Handicap.
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