Grade 1 winner Kimari gave trainer Wesley Ward reason to celebrate his 54th birthday in style, romping to a 5 ¼-length victory in her 5-year-old debut Thursday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Sent off at 1-9 in the optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 4 and up, her first race since finishing off the board in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 6, Kimari ($2.10) completed 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.10 over a fast main track under a hand ride from newly minted Eclipse Award champion jockey Joel Rosario.
“She gave me a birthday present, didn't she? She's been doing great,” Ward said. “She's an immensely talented horse that's been plagued by physical injuries throughout her career, and always overcame them. [Lately] she's been very, very sound.”
Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerberg Limited and Jonathan Poulin's Kimari broke alertly but was unhurried in the early going, kept in the clear four wide under a snug hold from Rosario, crowned last month with his first career Eclipse Award as leading jockey.
Kimari tracked in fourth as 45-1 long Splash Cash went the opening quarter-mile in 22.41 seconds, and gained ground effortlessly on the far outside to take over the top spot following a half in 45.66. Liberty M D ranged up on Kimari's flank rounding the far turn and the two straightened for home together before Rosario gave Kimari her cue and she sprinted clear.
“She did it the right way, nice and easy. That was pretty cool,” Rosario said. “[Ward] told me that if, for some reason, she didn't break well, just put her in the clear and go from there. She felt like she was moving well. I just had to figure out what she wanted to do.”
Kimari's Breeders' Cup was her first race in seven months, since a victory in the seven-furlong Madison (G1) last April over Keeneland's main track. Rosario was aboard for both races, as well as Kimari's victory in the Spring Fever last April at Oaklawn Park, also on the dirt.
“She's grown up. She's stronger than ever,” Rosario said. “She did it nice today.”
Ward said Kimari, who has also run second at Royal Ascot in the 2019 Queen Mary (G2) and 2020 Commonwealth Cup (G1) on the grass, would be pointed to an April 9 defense of her Madison victory.
“We were thinking of going to Dubai or the Madison, so we'll get together with the Coolmore team this evening,” Ward said. “We're leaning toward the Madison.”
Ward credited Eddie Nunez, a winner of 2,800 career races as a jockey now training a string of horses at Gulfstream, with being instrumental in Kimari's career.
“He's worked her every time, drove up from Gulfstream where he has his own horses,” Ward said. “He's been there from when we broke her right up to four days ago when he drove up to get on her at Payson Park. That's a long drive for him, so I really appreciate him going out of his way to take care of such a wonderful filly.”
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