Hollywood Park: Irish Gypsy's score in Desert Stormer caps four-win day for Garcia

INGLEWOOD, Calif.- A four-win day at Hollywood Park on Sunday, highlighted by a victory on Irish Gypsy in the $76,050 Desert Stormer Handicap, met the satisfaction of jockey Martin Garcia.

“It’s okay,” he dead-panned, while leaving the winner’s circle.

Irish Gypsy was Garcia’s final mount of the day. The 5-year-old Irish Gypsy, sent off as the 6-5 favorite, closed from fourth in a field of five to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Warren’s Blossom, who led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.

Garcia rode Irish Gypsy for trainer Bob Baffert, who had three winners on the program. Garcia rode all of them.

In the Desert Stormer, Garcia kept Irish Gypsy on the outside throughout the race, which he said was a key to victory.

“I had good position outside and she was relaxed,” Garcia said. “When I asked to go, she took off.”

Irish Gypsy ran six furlongs in 1:09.67, and paid $4.60. Fund Raise, trained by Baffert, finished third, followed by Washington Bridge and All The Love. U R All That I Am was scratched Sunday morning.

Owned by Mike Pegram and John Sikura, Irish Gypsy won her second consecutive stakes in the Desert Stormer, preceded by a win in the Valid Expectations Stakes at Lone Star Park on May 30.

Baffert said Irish Gypsy would be pointed for the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap over seven furlongs on July 16.

Earlier on the card, Garcia won a maiden race for 2-year-olds with the Baffert-trained Night Tide, an optional claimer for females with the Baffert-trained Toro Bonito, and a $40,000 claimer for sprinters for trainer Mike Mitchell with Deluxe Bus.

Both Baffert and Garcia thought they should have another winner when Da Ruler finished a neck behind Sway Away in an allowance race over seven furlongs.

“I should have had one more,” Garcia said.