BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Trainer Neil Drysdale will send Florida-bred Irish Prophet from his base at Santa Anita to Turf Paradise for Saturday’s $50,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap, a one-mile test for eight 3-year-olds and older on the turf. It will be only the second time the 6-year-old son of Irish Surf has tried stakes horses after finishing fourth in the Grade 3 San Marcos going 10 furlongs on the grass at Santa Anita in February of last year.
Irish Prophet looks to get back on track after racing in second condition, $80,000 optional claiming races on the turf at Santa Anita in his last three starts with his best finishing coming when third going a mile on Jan. 4. He had a bit of an excuse that day as he was bumped at the start then had difficulty at the break again on Feb. 2 when seventh in a mile-and-an-eighth contest.
He ran well in his most recent race going a mile on March 2, finishing fifth, but only a length behind winner Heart Headed at the wire.
His last win came just prior to the San Marcos when he took a first level, $50,000 optional claiming at 10 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 6 of last year.
A homebred for Thor-Bred Stables LLC, Irish Prophet has won two of 20 career starts with two seconds and four thirds while earning $173,780.
Out of the Yes It’s True mare Play It True, Irish Prophet is a graduate of the 2020 October Yearling Sale at Ocala Breeders’ Sales, but did not meet his reserve out of the Summerfield consignment.
(Irish Prophet’s Walking Video)
Orlando Mojica will ride Irish Profit from post six and he is 5-1 on the morning line.
Saline River is the 3-1 morning line favorite after winning the $40,000 Walter R. Cluer Memorial, a seven-and-a-half-furlong contest on the turf at Turf Paradise on Feb. 12.
Trained by Robertino Diodoro for Charles Garvey, Saline River has won three of his last five including a upper condition, $50,000 optional claiming going seven-and-a-half furlongs on the grass at Turf Paradise on Dec. 18. He also took a one mile allowance run on the turf at Mountianeer Park on Aug. 4.
Saline River is by Liam’s Map and has won seven of 17 career starts with earnings of $168,342.
Guillermo Rodriguez will ride and they have drawn post seven.
Rounding out the field are What a Dude with jockey Allyssa Morales, Sarwar (Fr) has Diego Herrera named to ride, Cornishman will have Luis Valenzuela aboard, Harry Hernandez rides Fearless Soldier, Kennebec will have Fausto H. Da Silva in the saddle and Arma d’Oro will be ridden by Carlos Montalvo.
Return to the March 13 issue of Wire to Wire
