Unzip Me Heavy Favorite in Irish O'Brien

The St. Patrick’s Day program at Santa Anita Park includes the scheduled appearance of downhill turf course specialist Unzip Me in the 15th running of the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs.

If the race stays on the grass, which would be unlikely if the rain being forecast materializes, Unzip Me would be a prohibitive favorite in a field of eight. The 6-year-old daughter of City Zip has won 7 of 11 starts including six stakes competitions over the layout. She won the 2010 running of the Irish O’Brien.

But the mare trained by Marty Jones never has raced over a dirt surface during a career that includes a 14-4-4 record from 25 starts. If she were to win a second Irish O’Brien, her career earnings of $959,228 would eclipse $1 million for breeders Harris Farms and Donald Valpredo and their ownership partners. With Rafael Bejarano riding at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, Hall of Famer Mike Smith picks up the mount aboard the mare who has been ridden by Bejarano in her last 11 starts.

The complete field for the Irish O’Brien Stakes, with jockeys and weights in post position order: Unzip Me, Smith, 122; Bench Glory, Brice Blanc, 117; Advance Ticket, Kevin Krigger, 117; Lindz Winz, Edwin Maldonado, 117; Secret Cove, Talamo, 117; Halo Dolly, Joel Rosario, 119; Camille C, David Flores, 117, and Sunburn, Espinoza, 117.