BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Irish Eyes Stable and Going in Circle’s St. Pat’s Day is 7-2 on the morning line of an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming that is slated as the featured 10th and penultimate race on the final day of the Gulfstream Park Championship Meet. A field of 10 fillies and mares, 4-year-old and older will go five furlongs on the turf for a $92,000 purse.
Trained by Laura Cazares, St. Pat’s Day is one of four Florida-breds in the field and will be trying to win her second consecutive start under the same conditions, surface and distance.
St. Pat’s Day won her last race on March 3 by a length-and-three quarters after leading from start, defeating runner-up Wide West (Ire), who she faces again Sunday.
The 5-year-old mare has shown she can run up consecutive victories having won three straight last year starting with a two-and-a-quarter-length score against non-winners of three, $12,500 claiming fillies and mares going five-and-a-half furlongs at Colonial Downs on Aug. 31. She then won her next two starts against $20,000 optional claiming, starter allowance fillies and mares sprinting on the synthetic course at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 6 and Nov. 12.
Keeping St. Pat’s Day under the same conditions, Cazares saw her finish second to Shasta Star going five furlongs on Dec. 17 and third behind winner Nikee Kan at five-and-a-half furlongs, both on the all-weather course at Gulfstream Park.
St. Pat’s Day is by Valiant Minister out of Birthday Suit, by Freud and was bred in Florida by her owners.
She has a career ledger of six wins, a second and two thirds in 14 starts with earnings of $159,305.
Paco Lopez will ride St. Pat’s Day from post nine.
Florida-breds Call Me Spicy, Moanas Power and Oh Darlin have also entered with the former given the lowest morning line odds of 10-1. Moanas Power is 20-1 in the program while Oh Darlin is 30-1.
Trainer Joe Orseno claimed Call Me Spicy for owner Robert Cotran out of a victorious effort against $50,000 claimers going five furlongs on the all-weather course at Gulfstream in September but has been unable to return her to winning form in five starts since.
The 4-year-old chestnut filly has finished second in three of those five starts including last time when a length shy of winner My Lady James in a $50,000 starter allowance going five-and-a-half furlongs on the synthetic on Feb. 9.
Call Me Spicy is Speightster out of Danessa Again, by Blame and has been very consistent in her 10-race career with four wins, four seconds and a third with earnings of $138,540.
Joe Bravo will ride Call Me Spicy and break from post one. Jesus Rios will ride Moanas Power from post two and Oh Darlin has post three and jockey Miguel Vasquez.
The 5-2 program favorite is Dontlookbackatall for trainer Christophe Clement and owners West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing and Titletown Racing Stables.
The 4-year-old daughter of Peace and Justice makes her first start since October when second to graded stakes-winner Danse Macbre in the $125,000 Glen Cover during the Belmont at Big A meet going six furlongs on the turf.
Dontlookbackatall has won three of nine career starts including a three-and-a-half-length score against first condition allowance fillies going six furlongs on the turf during the Belmont at Big A meet on Sept. 14.
Dontlookbackatall has post six and Jose Ortiz will ride.
Competing the field with riders are Jokes Up with Joel Rosario taking the riding assignment, Wide West (Ire) will have Edwin Gonzalez aboard, Leonel Reyes rides Blind Spot, Miss Speedy with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and Qualy with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons.