Lady of Shamrock, impressive winner of the Providencia Stakes (gr. IIIT) two months ago, looks to extend her winning streak to three in the $150,000 Honeymoon Stakes (gr. IIT) at Betfair Hollywood Park June 9.
Owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler, the late-running Lady of Shamrock has just four 3-year-old filly opponents to contend with in the 1 1/8-mile grass event. The Honeymoon, race 3 on the Belmont Stakes day program at Hollywood with a noon PDT post, precedes the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. IT) which is race 10 on the card.
Lady of Shamrock was a three-time stakes winner during the spring/summer meet at Santa Anita Park. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Scat Daddy captured the China Doll and Blue Norther on turf prior to her 2 3/4-length tally in the April 7 Providencia as the 9-10 favorite. Counting her maiden-breaking score at Churchill Downs on the turf in her third start last November, the dark bay filly has won four of her past five starts.
Lady of Shamrock figures to be a prohibitive favorite once again, but if there is a concern, it is that a lack of pace could compromise her closing style.
Alonso Quinonez will be aboard Lady of Shamrock for the first time, with regular rider Mike Smith competing in New York. Lady of Shamrock drew the rail and will carry 123 pounds, spotting her rivals from five to 10 pounds.
Sadler also has a supplemental entry in the field, Trois Aureole. J.W. Singer's lightly raced daughter of English Channel is coming off an allowance/optional claiming victory and has consecutive wins after losing her first two starts. Joe Talamo rides.
My Gi Gi lost a heartbreaker to Bobina by a nose at 10-1 odds in the one-mile Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) May 5 and tries an additional furlong for trainer Peter Eurton. Owned by a partnership that includes Dennis Conner and Lloyd DeBruycker, the E Dubai filly will be attempting to end a a five-race skid since graduating in her debut on the turf at Louisiana Downs last August.
Stormy Lucy has won three straight at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Frank Lucarelli and gets a class test here. Her last victory came in the 1 1/16-mile Golden Poppy on the turf May 6 in her stakes debut. The Stormy Atlantic filly broke her maiden in a claiming race over Hollywood's Cushion Track in November. She has four victories in eight starts.
Long Face is likely to provide the pace as she stretches out once more for trainer Patrick Biancone after finishing off the board in an optional claimer at six furlongs May 5. The Whywhywhy filly graduated in front-running fashion at one mile on Santa Anita's turf by 2 1/2 lengths last October. Long Face will race without blinkers.
$150,000 Honeymoon Handicap (gr. IIT, Race 3, Noon), 3 YO Fillies, 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Lady of Shamrock (KY), A Quinonez, 123, J W Sadler
2. My Gi Gi (KY), R Bejarano, 116, P Eurton
3. Long Face (KY), V Espinoza, 113, P L Biancone
4. Stormy Lucy (KY), E Flores, 118, F Lucarelli
5. Trois Aureole (KY), J Talamo, 116, J W Sadler
Blinkers Off: Long Face