Irish O’Brien Wins Santa Anita Feature

Irish O’Brien closed strongly in the final furlong to win the $45,000 feature race Thursday at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Joe Steiner, Irish O’Brien finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Agigael, ridden by apprentice Dario Lozoya. Awesome Promise, ridden by Terry Lipham, finished third, another length back in the race for older fillies and mares.

In her last 18 starts, Irish O’Brien has won four times, all down Santa Anita’s unique Hillside turf course, which has the only right-handed turn on an American racing strip. The 7-year-old mare was clocked in 1:14 1/5 for about 6 1/2 furlongs and earned $24,750 by defeating five rivals.

Sent off the favorite, Irish O’Brien paid $5.20, $2.80 and $2.40.