Carimba captures first stakes victory in Pan Zareta
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE?q=100)
Indiana-bred Carimba notched her first stakes win in New Orleans, beating Goin’ Good by 1 3/4 lengths in the $100,000 Pan Zareta Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Carimba pressed Charlie T through splits of 21.72 and 45.43 in this turf sprint for older fillies and mares, besting her pace rival in upper stretch, turning back a bid from Redifined, and easily holding clear Goin’ Good, who made the last run.
Carimba, with Marcelino Pedroza riding for trainer Rey Hernandez and owner John Donaldson, was timed in 1:03.23 for “about” 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf and paid $5.80 as the favorite. Redifined flattened out late but held third.
Five-year-old Carimba began her career with trainer Wesley Ward and was precocious, winning her career debut, a Horseshoe Indianapolis turf sprint maiden, by more than eight lengths in August 2020. Carimba didn’t race between August 2021 and April 2023 and returned under the care of Hernandez, facing Indiana-breds on dirt in her first two post-layoff starts. Carimba, by Kantharous out of the Warrior’s Reward mare Star of Gallantry, is several lengths better on turf, as she showed blitzing a Churchill Downs allowance group on Sept. 24, earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, and as she confirmed Saturday taking down her first stakes prize.
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