Flor de Sombra blooms in Shamrock Rose

Flor de Sombra wasn’t the favorite in Friday’s $200,000 Shamrock Rose Stakes at Penn National, and she bobbled a bit at the start. From there, though, it was all sunshine for Flor de Sombra, who romped to a 4 ¾-length victory.

The win was the two-year-old Social Inclusion filly’s fourth in five starts and her third stakes triumph. She now has earnings of $290,600.

Between an outer post position and her bobbling start, Flor de Sombra and jockey Mychel Sanchez found themselves four wide and sitting off the pace through the first half-mile of the Shamrock Rose, for juvenile Pennsylvania-bred fillies. That might have been for the good, though, as 3-2 post time favorite Late Frost found herself hounded by longshot Celtic Tiger through a testing opening quarter-mile in 21.69 seconds.

Rounding the turn, Celtic Tiger and Midnight Parade, who also was up close early, began to tire, with Flor de Sombra then seizing the initiative. She was a length behind Late Frost after a half-mile in 45.29 seconds, and, though wide throughout, she had momentum on her side.

Flor de Sombra took over in upper stretch and drew away to the easy win, with Late Frost holding second. It was another three lengths back to Lindalovesgold in third, and she was almost six clear of the rest. Running time for the six furlongs on a fast main track was 1:12.01.

Off as the second choice, Flor de Sombra paid $5.20 to win. The exacta, with the top two wagering choices occupying the slots, returned $13.20 on a two-dollar wager.

Flor de Sombra is a homebred for Joseph Imbesi and is trained by Guadalupe Preciado.

Flor de Sombra
Flor de Sombra won the Shamrock Rose Stakes. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO.

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