Carmelita's Man likely in turf allowance before end of meet

DEL MAR, Calif. - Carmelita’s Man has been the star California-bred in turf stakes in recent months, winning the Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita in May and Saturday’s California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar.

Without a similar race in coming months, Carmelita’s Man is likely to appear in an allowance race on turf before the end of the Del Mar summer meeting on Sept. 11.

For a two-time stakes winner in 2022, Carmelita’s Man retains allowance conditions since the recent wins do not count against his eligibility under rules developed by California tracks to boost opportunities for statebreds.

Considering Carmelita’s Man’s recent performances, the 5-year-old gelding could be a danger in such an allowance race.

Carmelita’s Man has won 6 of 19 starts and earned $362,038 for owners Larry and Ann Jett.

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“He’s always been a very consistent horse,” trainer Dean Pederson said Sunday morning.

In the California Dreamin’ Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf, Carmelita’s Man closed along the rail to win by a head as the 3-1 favorite, edging 22-1 Bang for Your Buck in a field of 11. Carmelita’s Man was in need of a race after recent sharp workouts, including a half-mile in 47.80 seconds on July 31.

“He’s been kind of lackadaisical in his works and his last two works have been quite fast,” Pederson said. “You hope he doesn’t leave it out there in the morning. Everything went his way.”

Carmelita’s Man is nearing a late-season rest, particularly if Pederson can find a suitable allowance race in coming weeks.

“If we can get one more race into him, we can give him a break and get ready for the winter,” Pederson said.