Carmelita's Man runs even better to again win California Dreamin'
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Carmelita’s Man was the 3-1 favorite when he won the 2022 California Dreamin’ Stakes for statebreds on turf at Del Mar.
In the same race on Saturday, Carmelita’s Man was dismissed as the third choice in a field of 10, but he ran an even better race than last year to win his first stakes of 2023.
Ridden for the first time by Tiago Pereira, Carmelita’s Man closed from sixth to win by three-quarters of a length over 9-10 favorite Kings River Knight, who had won stakes for statebreds in his previous two starts.
Carmelita’s Man ($13.60) ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:41 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93. He won the 2022 running in a slightly slower 1:41.64. The California Dreamin Stakes on Saturday had a purse of $152,000.
Trainer Dean Pederson gave Pereira instructions to stay active on the 6-year-old Carmelita’s Man and not fade too far from the front in the first half of the race. Pereira had Carmelita’s Man four to five lengths behind pacesetter Jimmy Blue Jeans through early fractions of 23.20 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.45 for a half-mile.
Pereira moved Carmelita’s Man closer on the turn and made a wide move leaving the turn to challenge Kings River Knight, who led by more than a length in early stretch under jockey Umberto Rispoli. The lead was temporary.
“The other horse just blew me away,” Rispoli said.
Rispoli said he thought Kings River Knight was performing well enough to win.
“I was running,” he said. “He gave me a good late kick.”
Carmelita’s Man took the lead in the final furlong.
“I waited for space and we won,” Pereira said.
Kings River Knight, who won the Crystal Water Stakes and Bertrando Stakes in his two preceding starts, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 7-1 None Above the Law.
Royal ‘n Rando, Jimmy Blue Jeans, Bally’s Charm, Indian Peak, Bang for Your Buck, Larry’s Legend, and Hacking It Up completed the order of finish.
Carmelita’s Man, owned by Larry and Ann Jett and trained by Dean Pederson, has won 8 of 27 starts and earned $381,760.
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