Caravel takes great setup to the wire in Goldwood Stakes
Caravel could be the best older female turf sprinter in the mid-Atlantic region and Ann Merryman, her breeder, owner, and trainer, has every right to dream bigger after Caravel made short work of the $75,000 Goldwood Stakes on Friday evening at Monmouth Park.
Granted, Caravel got a great setup Friday, waiting patiently in fifth as a speed duel brewed in the five-furlong Goldwood, but Caravel has led in her starts more often than she has let others make the running, though she made an improbable last-to-first move winning her career debut at Penn National. It’s the tactical versatility, speed plus a big turn of foot, that might be making Caravel into a serious grass sprinter, and she blew past some decent horses Friday with ease. Jockey Pablo Morales tipped Caravel outside in upper stretch and she breezed to the front, likely going her final quarter mile in 22 seconds and change, on the way to a 4 1/4-length win.
“She broke well. I just didn’t send her. I was going to be wherever I was going to be with her because I know she is usually forwardly placed on her own,” said Morales, who traveled from Pennsylvania to ride Caravel, who had been scratched from an off-turf race earlier this week at Parx Racing. “After they sent so hard out of there, showing a ton of speed, I just figured I’d wait a little and get around them and get in the clear because I know how well she finishes. She has a great closing kick.”
Caravel, who paid $5.80 as the second choice, was timed in 54.97 over a firm course. Miss Auramet finished second, a half-length better than 62-1 shot No Mercy Percy as 18-10 favorite Gotta Go Mo checked in fourth.
“This was another good effort by her. I thought it was brilliant. She pulled away like it was nothing,” Merryman said. “She is just a dream. She continues to amaze me every time she races.”
Caravel now is 6-0-2 from eight starts and could be headed to the Grade 3 Caress later this month at Saratoga, said Merryman. Four-year-old Caravel is by Mizzen Mast out of Zeezee Zoomzoom, by Congrats, and was bred in Pennsylvania.