Irish Gypsy looks to forget the Saratoga woes as she heads the field in Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar
The 5-year-old mare, Irish Gypsy, has had a disappointing outing at Saratoga, a couple of weeks ago, that she and her trainer, Bob Baffert, would like to forget. However, the daughter of Hennessy is heading the field at Del Mar for the $150,000 Grade 3 Rancho
Bernardo Handicap to be held on 21 August, 2011.
Back at Saratoga, Irish Gypsy was sent at the odds of 19 to 10 to win the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap and she was heavily backed to win the six furlong event on dirt under jockey John Velazquez.
Despite being called the favourite, based on her previous record this year, the experienced mare couldn’t handle the Saratoga track which was labeled “good”.
In a small field of five, Irish Gypsy broke from the rail under John Velazquez and she was held back by the jockey to drop back to the rear. When the need arose, Irish Gypsy couldn’t find that turn of foot which was expected of her.
She attempted to rally from the outside trying to use the width, but wound up fourth.
The pace maker, Tar Heel Mom, won the race and Irish Gypsy finished 8 ¼ lengths behind her.
Prior to the defeat in Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap, the Hennessy mare had a three race win streak.
Her most proud win came when she defeated Ultra Blend by a nose in the Grade A Gleam under Martin Garcia on 16 July, 2011, over at a distance of seven furlongs.
The winning time for the victorious mare was 1 minute and 22.44 seconds.
Previously she finished at the top in the Desert Stormer at Hollywood Park, also under Martin Garcia.
Over a distance of six furlongs, Irish Gypsy headed home making some fast fractions and her winning time was a quick 1 minute and 9.67 seconds.
Irish Gypsy has won 6 races, grabbed 4 runners up positions and once finished third in the15 races she has participated in with career earnings worth $368,420.
She will break from post number 5 and she worked a bullet of three furlongs in 35.80 seconds on 16 August, 2011, for the Del Mar feature race.
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