MY IRISH GIRL A PERFECT 7-FOR-7 IN 2010 WITH MISS WOODFORD WIN

John Heims
Monmouth Park

Oceanport, N.J. – Julia C. Boutelle’s Teaks North upset his eight rivals in the $100,000 Restoration Stakes, winning by a length as My Irish Gal reported home a 2 ¾ length winner in the $100,000 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Trained by Justin Sallusto, Teaks North covered the mile and an eighth over firm turf in 1:46 2/5 and paid $24.60, $9 and $4.80.  Post-time favorite Beau Choix checked in second, paying $3.60 and $2.60 and completing the $75.60 exacta.  It was another length and three-quarters back to Lighthouse Sound, who paid $3.60 to show.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better trip,” said winning rider Jose Valdivia Jr.  “This horse broke well and got me in a great spot.

“He was very game when we hit the lane and the second and third-place finishers (Beau Choix and Lonesome Street) came at him, but he prevailed.  He was a little tired, but he dug in.  He got the mile and an eighth distance and could maybe even go further.”

The Restoration Stakes win marked the second-consecutive victory on turf for Teaks North, who took an entry-level allowance on Haskell Day, Aug. 1.  The 3-year-old gelding by Northern Afleet from the High Honors mare Teaksberry Road sports a record of 3-1-0 from seven starts and earnings of $118,900.

In the Miss Woodford Stakes, My Irish Girl swept to the lead nearing the 1/8th pole before opening up through the lane.

Trained by Brad H. Cox, My Irish Girl stepped the six furlongs over the fast main track in 1:10 2/5 and paid $8.80, $5 and $3.80.  Longshot Karmageddon rallied to complete the $234 exacta and paid $25.80 to place and $10 to show.  Funny Feeling was another three-quarters of a length back in third, good for a $4.80 show mutuel.  Favorite Starlite Starbrite was fourth in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies.

“We got a perfect trip from the outside post,” said winning jockey Israel Campo.  “I knew there was a lot of speed and she’s able to sit off the pace and come from behind.  That’s just what she did today.  She’s shown she can handle any track.”

The Miss Woodford win was the seventh in as many starts this year for My Irish Girl, who races in the colors of Midwest Thoroughbreds.  The daughter of Closing Argument from the Rizzi mare Rich Assertion has now earned $171,250.

Her lone loss came in her debut on Dec. 5, 2009 at Remington Park, where she was fifth.