03/20/2013 2:36PM

Charles Town: Withgreatpleasure plunges in class to take St. Patrick's Handicap

By Joe DeVivo
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Coady Photography/Jeremy Wright
Travis Dunkelberger guides Withgreatpleasure to a 2 1/2-length victory in the St. Patrick's Day Handicap.

The 5-year-old mare Withgreatpleasure, dropping sharply in class after facing Grade 2 stakes company in her last two starts, powered her way to a 2 1/2-length victory in Tuesday night’s $35,000 St. Patrick’s Day Handicap for fillies and mares at Charles Town.

Ridden by Travis Dunkelberger for trainer David Nunn, Withgreatpleasure stalked pacesetter Kathleen’s a Catch early in the 1 1/16-mile race, took a clear lead passing the stands for the first time, repelled a bid from Kathleen’s a Catch, and drove clear to the wire. She completed the distance on a fast track in 1:47.08 for her sixth win in 30 career starts.

The win snapped a 10-racing losing streak since Withgreatpleasure won an overnight stakes at Delaware Park last August. Since then, she had finished second five times, including the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel last month.

Stakes winner Bayonne, making her first start since November, finished second, a half-length in front of Kathleen’s a Catch. Prize Winner and T.M.’s Treasure completed the order of finish.