Lady of Shamrock may get rabbit's help in Hollywood's Gamely

ARCADIA, Calif. – Lady of Shamrock may have a stablemate working in her favor when she starts in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on May 25.

Lady of Shamrock finished second in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita, and was promoted to first when Viva Carina was disqualified for causing interference in the final furlong.

The Santa Barbara was Lady of Shamrock’s second start of 2013, and second runner-up finish. She was second to Tiz Flirtatious in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes on March 24. In both races, she chased a moderate or slow pace and could not catch the leader.

“I’m going to have to go out and get a rabbit,” trainer John Sadler said. “I’m in the market for one.”

Whether Sadler can find a pacemaker for Lady of Shamrock remains to be seen, but it might help. Lady of Shamrock was last of five in the Santa Barbara through a slow six-furlong fractional time of 1:14.41. She was within a length of Viva Carina with a furlong remaining, but was forced to take up late when the leader drifted to the inside. The stewards reversed the order of finish after an inquiry.

Jockey Victor Espinoza, who rode Viva Carina, was suspended three days by stewards for causing inteference. The suspension begins on Saturday at Hollywood Park and continues through May 2.

Espinoza was cited for failing to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the Santa Barbara Handicap

Sadler said he wished that Lady of Shamrock was more involved in the race earlier.

“She’s gotten really relaxed this year and it’s scary,” Sadler said. “She wants to sit way back and close.”

Owned by Kosta and Pete Hronis, Lady of Shamrock has won six stakes and 7 of 13 starts in her career. She won two Grade 1 races for 3-year-olds last year- the American Oaks at Hollywood Park and the Del Mar Oaks.