Carmelita's Man retired after five seasons

ARCADIA, Calif. – Carmelita’s Man, a durable gelding who campaigned through five seasons and won eight races, including three stakes for California-breds, has run his final race.

Owner Larry Jett and trainer Dean Pederson retired the 7-year-old after his fourth-place finish at Del Mar in the California Dreamin,’ a summer-season turf mile he won in 2022 and 2023.

“He was still running good races and he ran a good race (last out) at Del Mar,” Pederson said, referring to the fourth-place finish in which he missed by less than two lengths. But the trainer acknowledged that Carmelita’s Man had not won since August 2023.

Pederson said he had “wear and tear on the body, and rather than run him for a claiming price, we came to the agreement his better days were behind him and we let him go out with a little bit of dignity.” Carmelita’s Man, who began his career in summer 2020, earned $626,556 from 35 starts.

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Carmelita’s Man is currently stabled at a boarding facility affiliated with the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA). Plans call for the gelding to be placed with a CARMA Aftercare Partner next year.

CARMA “facilitates the transition of Thoroughbreds from the racetrack to approved after-care non-profit organizations for second careers or sanctuaries,” according to the organization’s website (www.carma4horses.org).

In addition to the Cal Dreamin’ Stakes, Carmelita’s Man won the Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita in spring 2023.

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