Lady of Shamrock rallied past Best Present Ever in the Betfair Hollywood Park homestretch to win the $350,000 American Oaks (gr. I) by a decisive 2 1/2 lengths.
Ridden to victory by veteran jockey Mike Smith, Lady of Shamrock was allowed to drop back into sixth place early on as the European shippers Nayarro and Miss Cato set a slow pace of :25.39, :50.43, and 1:15.79. Best Present Ever was right behind them in third, while Colonial Flag was on the outside in fourth. My Gi Gi was rating in behind the leaders in fifth, followed along the rail by Lady of Shamrock and on the outside by Stormy Lucy. Left a Message was the early trailer.
Rounding the far turn, Colonial Flag made a bid for the lead on the far outside, and Best Present Ever slipped through a narrow opening along the rail to challenge for the lead, with resulted in four horses contending for the lead while separated by little more than a half-length. But Lady of Shamrock was moving strongly along the rail, and as the field entered the homestretch, Smith guided his filly through a narrow opening along the rail to seize command of the lead. From there, the race was over, as Lady of Shamrock coasted home in front over My Gi Gi, while Best Present Ever and Miss Cato rounded out the superfecta. The final time was 2:03.19.
The winner is trained by John Sadler.
-Keelerman
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