Caravel, the reigning Pennsylvania-bred Horse of the Year, made the grade with a sweeping stretch-run move to capture Saturday's $200,000 Grade 3 Caress, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Bred, trained, and co-owned by Elizabeth Merryman in partnership with Bobby Flay, the 4-year-old Mizzen Mast gray provided her conditioner with her first win at Saratoga and first graded stakes win.
Flay purchased a majority stake in the filly following her impressive score in the five-furlong Goldwood in June at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. Caravel will be conditioned by Graham Motion going forward.
“It was pretty great. A really fun, memorable day and a great way to wrap up my stint as her trainer. It was a lot of fun,” Merryman said. “She seems like she came out of the race very well. She's a little tired after shipping up and running but I'm pleased with how she came out of it.”
Caravel, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up for the first time, settled in third position as Robin Sparkles set a swift pace. Angled into the clear for the stretch run, Caravel rallied by her rivals with a powerful turn-of-foot to secure the 2 1/2-length win and a 97 Beyer.
“Irad rode a picture-perfect race as he is known to do,” Merryman said. “She's pretty fast when she gets the cue to go. She's learned that she needs to settle and wait for the cue and that's really helped her running style.”
The year-end goal for Caravel is the five-furlong $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. Merryman said the abbreviated distance shouldn't be an issue.
“She just ran at Monmouth going five furlongs in 54 and 4, so I think it shouldn't be a problem,” Merryman said. “The main problem at Del Mar will be that many horses and traffic. She certainly will go through a hole that doesn't exist. If you're going to be a really good turf sprinter, you have to have the courage and moxie to be willing to go through spots where you have to make your own room.”
The post Caravel Gets First Graded Stakes Win, Will Target BC Turf Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
