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Marketing to Mix it up with Lady of Shamrock in Gamely
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| Marketing Mix (right) finished ahead of the younger Lady of Shamrock (left) in the Breeders' Cup F&M Turf, but must confirm the form on Monday
(Benoit Photos) |
In its final Memorial Day in operation, Hollywood Park will serve up a
fascinating showdown between turf distaff stars Marketing Mix and Lady of
Shamrock in the Grade 1, $250,000
Gamely
Stakes.
Marketing Mix beat her younger rival in their only prior meeting, when
runner-up to champion Zagora in the November 2 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
at Santa Anita. Lady of Shamrock was a creditable fifth that day. Not only was
she a three-year-old taking on her elders, but Lady of Shamrock had also missed
some training time, entered the race off a longer break than originally planned,
and had traffic trouble to boot.
Lady of Shamrock hopes that the proverbial shoe is on the other foot this
time. The John Sadler filly has two solid runs already under her belt, while
Marketing Mix will be making her five-year-old debut in this spot. Yet the older
mare still brings the strongest form to bear, and remains the one to beat.
Trained by Tom Proctor, Marketing Mix has compiled an 11-7-3-0 mark on turf,
including victories in the 2011 Wonder Where, Pucker Up and Mrs. Revere at three
and the 2012 Nassau, Dance Smartly and Rodeo Drive at four. The daughter of
Medaglia d'Oro has also performed capably against high-class European rivals.
Aside from her second in the 2011 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, she just
missed in last summer's Beverly D., and defeated a few highly-touted
internationals in her placed effort in the Breeders' Cup. |
Marketing Mix was scheduled to reappear in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on
Kentucky Derby Day, but the rain-softened ground prompted connections to scratch
her. Sure to get the firm turf she relishes in sunny Southern California, she
also picks up the services of Hall of Famer Gary Stevens.
Lady of Shamrock was among last year's leading sophomore turf fillies. A
dynamic winner of the American Oaks over the Hollywood turf, the Scat Daddy
filly went last to first in the Del Mar Oaks, notching her fifth career stakes
score. Although she has been convincing against members of her own generation,
Lady of Shamrock has yet to cross the wire first since tackling distaffers of
all ages. In her return in the March 24 Santa Ana, she got off to a slow start,
rallied off a tepid pace, and settled for second. Lady of Shamrock next met with
interference in the April 20 Santa Barbara, where she was awarded the victory
via disqualification.
Following the Santa Barbara, which was another paceless affair, Sadler
commented that he would likely employ a pacemaker to set up Lady of Shamrock's
closing kick. Miss Ellany, in the same ownership as Lady of Shamrock, has the
look of one in the Gamely. Although she's shown no speed in two U.S. starts, the
daughter of sprinter Kodiac had raced on or near the lead in Great Britain. The
rider switch to Martin Pedroza tips the hand, and Miss Ellany promises to carve
out honest fractions from the rail.
The Gamely is not merely a match race. Tiz Flirtatious upset Lady of Shamrock
when getting the jump on the favorite in the Santa Ana last out. Never out of
the exacta in five turf starts, the Marty Jones mare also finished second in
last fall's Matriarch and Robert J. Frankel. Fellow California-bred Halo Dolly
captured the local prep, the April 28 Wilshire, and boasts 15 wins from 29
career starts. Owned in partnership by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Halo
Dolly rates as the 123-pound co-highweight along with Marketing Mix and Lady of
Shamrock.
My Gi Gi barely held on from Lady of Shamrock in the Honeymoon Handicap over
this course and 1 1/8-mile trip last June, but was no match for her in their
subsequent meetings. She has not raced since checking in fifth to Marketing Mix
in the September 29 Rodeo Drive and appears up against it here. Former Peruvian
champion Private Affair likewise must improve considerably to factor.
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| Fast Bullet seeks a breakthrough against much more experienced foes in the Los Angeles' Cap
(Breeders' Cup Ltd.) |
Earlier on the holiday program, a contentious group of sprinters will dash
six furlongs on the Cushion Track in the Grade 3, $100,000
Los
Angeles Handicap.
The hardy millionaire Comma to the Top ranks as the 121-pound highweight, on
the strength of recent front-running victories in the March 2 Tom Fool at
Aqueduct and the May 4 Cool Frenchy dashing five furlongs here. But the last
time the Peter Miller veteran went six furlongs at this venue, Comma to the Top
tired to fourth in last December's Vernon O. Underwood.
The Bob Baffert-trained Fast Bullet looms as a dangerous pace rival.
Two-for-two at Hollywood, the lightly-raced five-year-old romped in a 6
1/2-furlong allowance when last seen on December 6, garnering a dazzling 107
BRIS Speed figure. Fast Bullet has lost only once in his stop-start career, but
that was a decent sixth off a year-long layoff in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and
this is a more manageable spot.
Baffert's more accomplished entrant is Apriority, who landed the 2011 Mr.
Prospector and placed second in that year's Carter. Trained for most of his
career by David Fawkes, he joined Baffert for 2013 and could be sitting on a
peak effort in his third outing for the barn. Apriority exits a third to Jimmy
Creed and Unbridled's Note in the April 6 Potrero Grande.
Ron Ellis is also double-handed in the Los Angeles 'Cap, with
Centralinteligence and Majestic City. Centralinteligence was runner-up in last
year's edition and warmed up with a closing fourth to Comma to the Top in the
Cool Frenchy, his return from a 10-month absence. Majestic City, a prominent
two-year-old when trained by Miller, will be making his debut for Ellis. The
City Zip colt brings a three-for-four local mark, highlighted by daylight wins
in the 2011 Hollywood Juvenile Championship and Willard L. Proctor Memorial, and
rates as a sleeper in his comeback.
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Camp Victory, promoted to first in the 2011 Los Angeles on the
disqualification of Amazombie, was only third in 2012 and now seeks to regain
his title. The Mike Mitchell trainee has won just once in the interim, in last
summer's Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood, and made no impact when fifth in his
return in the Potrero Grande. Camp Victory has been training forwardly, however,
and could be on the verge of a rebound.
The Cody Autrey-trained Tiz Tee Time takes a class hike off a wire job at
Oaklawn Park on April 13, but keeps Stevens in the saddle.
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