Dr Blarney stays perfect at Suffolk with repeat in Last Dance Stakes

Dr Blarney re-asserted his stranglehold on the Massachusetts-bred handicap division with a decisive victory on Sunday in the $52,500 Last Dance Stakes at Suffolk Downs.

The 4-year-old Dublin gelding broke from the outside gate and ran three wide into the first turn, soon hooking up for an early battle with rail-running J. C. Indy. Those two battled into an opening quarter of 24.20, with J. C. Indy maintaining a half-length lead.

J. C. Indy and Dr Blarney opened up six lengths on the rest of the field coming out of the first turn, with J. C. Indy maintaining a half-length lead. Dr Blarney chipped away at the pacesetter from the outside, and was within a head after the half-mile, run in 48.04 seconds.

They drew even approaching the final turn, and Dr Blarney blew past J. C. Indy with little visual urging from jockey Tammi Piermarini. Dr Blarney veered out a bit in the stretch, but the jockey never lifted her hands on the gelding as they drew off to an 8 3/4-length victory. Brokers Prize finished second, 11 3/4 lengths ahead of a spent J. C. Indy.

Dr Blarney stopped the clock in the one mile and 70 yard race at 1:43.53 over a fast main track. He paid $2.10 to win as the gargantuan favorite.

Dr Blarney races as a Massachusetts homebred for Joseph DiRico, and he is trained by Karl Grusmark.

Sunday’s victory improved Dr Blarney’s lifetime record to 10 wins in 14 career starts for earnings of $317,020. He is undefeated in six career starts at Suffolk Downs, and he is also a perfect 6 for 6 in stakes company. Among those wins was last year’s edition of the Last Dance.