Be My Caroline holds on in Rainbow Miss Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Be My Caroline continued a family tradition Saturday, when she won the $75,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes at Oaklawn Park just like her older sister, All About Allie, did in 2011. Be My Caroline set the pace, then just withstood a bid from the favorite, Easter Indy, for a nose win in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies bred in Arkansas.

Be My Caroline ($14.20) showed excellent speed from the gate, quickly moving to the lead and taking her rivals through fractions of 21.97 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.42 for the half-mile.

“I was afraid maybe she went a little too fast early,” said co-owner Jimmy Sanders. “I didn’t think the finish line could get here quick enough.”

Be My Caroline hit the wire just in front, covering the distance on a fast track in 1:11.57.

Jareth Loveberry was aboard for trainer Allen Milligan.

Be My Caroline is a daughter of Storm and a Half and the mare Be Good Molly, making her a full sister to All About Allie, a six-time stakes winner who earned $311,298. Both horses are owned by the Sanders Brothers operation based in Arkansas.

Attendance on Saturday was an estimated 25,000.

Dates set for 2016

The Arkansas Racing Commission on Saturday approved a 57-date meet for Oaklawn for 2016. The season will open Jan. 15 and continue through April 16.