Shamrock Rose runs away with Malvern Rose Stakes

Shamrock Rose came up roses in the $100,000 Malvern Rose Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred 3-year-old fillies Sunday night at Presque Isle Downs, drawing clear as she pleased for a 10 1/4-length victory.

Sent away favored under Jerome Lermyte, Shamrock Rose ($3.40) sat second early as Stardoza, who broke from the rail, cruised through moderate early splits of 24.69 seconds for the quarter and 49.23 seconds for the half. Shamrock Rose, who had been two lengths behind the leader at the latter split, easily reeled her in to poke a head in front at the quarter pole. She extended her advantage to four lengths straightening away into the lane, and the outcome was never in doubt from there.

The filly finished the mile on the all-weather track in 1:38.20.

Stardoza easily held sway in second, 2 1/2 lengths clear of Peppy.

This was the first victory for Shamrock Rose since winning the Ontario Debutante Stakes in her career debut last September at Woodbine. She subsequently finished second to Wonder Gadot, now a multiple Canadian classic winner and the Kentucky Oaks runner-up in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes. This year, the filly, who is trained by Mark Casse for Conrad Farms, finished second in the Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct and third in the Weber City Miss Stakes at Laurel before heading to the state of her birth to face her fellow Pennsylvania-breds.