Cariba makes Caress her first stakes victory
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Cariba, who found her niche when switching to the grass earlier this season, became a stakes winner in her first try by rallying to a half-length decision over the pace-setting Jakarta in the $200,000 Caress, the finale on Saturday’s 12-race marathon card at Saratoga.
Cariba gave jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. his fourth win of the day.
Cariba was transferred to Christophe Clement’s barn earlier in the year after her original trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, retired to become the agent for jockey Luis Saez. Cariba’s last race for McLaughlin was also her first on grass, a second-place effort in which she was beaten a nose in an entry-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park on March 7.
Cariba registered a win and a second after joining Clement’s stable before turning in a breakthrough performance in the 5 1/2-furlong Caress. Rated about four lengths off the early leader following an alert beginning, Cariba went wide into the stretch, then responded readily when set down by Ortiz to wear down Jakarta in the final strides.
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Jakarta gave way grudgingly on the front end, but held willingly enough to to finish second, a head in front of Sweet Bye and Bye, who rallied belatedly just outside the winner through the final furlong. Dalika, the 9-5 favorite, was shuffled to the rear of the field during the early going and was never a serious factor, finishing fifth, four lengths behind the winner.
Cariba, a 4-year-old daughter of Cairo Prince owned by Everett Dobson’s Cheyenne Stables LLC, paid $10.40 after negotiating the distance in 1:01.53 over a firm course.
“This filly came from Kiaran McLaughlin and he was very helpful when she came in to us during the winter,” Clement said. “She keeps getting better. She is owned by a wonderful man, Everett Dobson, who is an owner-breeder and this is very meaningful for him, obviously, because down the line she is expected to become a broodmare.”
Clement said the Caress played out about the way he thought it would.
“I told Irad there are two or three speeds and I wanted him to be aggressive and get a position third or fourth, because we had a bad draw and I didn’t want to be caught in the back and have to come around everyone,” Clement said. “And he gave her a perfect trip. It’s nice when it works out that way. I think this was the best race of her life and we’ll likely keep her sprinting because it’s hard to go against that now.