Irish Presence ends long drought in Las Madrinas

CYPRESS, Calif. - Irish Presence ended a 15-race losing streak with a come-from-behind victory in Sunday’s $75,000 Las Madrinas Stakes at Los Alamitos, the first stakes win for the 4-year-old filly.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Irish Presence ($6.60) closed from last in a field of four to win by a half-length over Legacy, the 2-1 second choice. My Happy Face was third as the 6-5 favorite, well clear of 5-1 shot Zilber.

Irish Presence was third to Legacy in the Cypress Stakes here in July before finishing third and fifth in two optional claiming races at Del Mar.

Irish Presence was confidently ridden by Desormeaux, who had the filly as many as seven lengths off the pace on the backstretch. Into the stretch, Irish Presence was third and took the lead in the final furlong.

“She naturally comes from out of it,” trainer Danny Velasquez said. “She likes this track. She’s pretty honest and she always gives her best.

“I thought we should have won the last time we ran here. This worked out all right.”

Owned by Mike Lofino Sr., and Anthony Zankich, Irish Presence, by Midnight Lute, has won 3 of 23 starts and earned $155,819.

The Las Madrinas Stakes was her first win since an optional claimer at Golden Gate Fields in February 2013 when trained by Eoin Harty. Irish Presence joined Velasquez’s stable in the summer of 2013. She was third in the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes at Santa Anita in May.

The Las Madrinas was the first stakes win for Velasquez since Genuine Talent won the Willard Proctor Stakes at Hollywood Park in 2006.