Talamo Picks Up Mount on Dancingtothestars

Mario Gutierrez has ridden Dancingtothestars in her last 10 races and in 15 of her 21 career starts. But not Saturday in the Irish O’Brien Stakes. Gutierrez, who rode I’ll Have Another to victory in the 2012 Kentucky Derby for owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill, rides at Golden Gate Fields this weekend, including Marketway on Saturday for trainer Troy Taylor in the $50,000 Camilla Urso Stakes.

With Gutierrez in the Bay Area, O’Neill has engaged Joe Talamo to ride Dancingtothestars in the $100,000 Irish O’Brien at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Santa Anita’s second-leading jockey this meet with 41 victories, Talamo has ridden Dancingtothestars three times previously, winning once, in July of 2012.

“We love Mario, but he’s out of town,” O’Neill said. “The filly is doing well. I think 6 ½ down the hill might be a tad too short for her, but if she gets a good clean trip, she’ll be fine.”

The field for the Irish O’Brien, race four of nine: Boller Bomb, Martin Garcia, 10-1; Dancingtothestars, Joe Talamo, 2-1; Oscillator, Edwin Maldonado, 10-1; Tribal Spy, Irving Orozco, 4-1; Ciao Bella Luna, Rafael Bejarano, 5-2; Sudden Sunday, Victor Espinoza, 8-1; and Could Be Trouble, Corey Nakatani, 3-1.