Carotari, Girls Know Best win turf sprint stakes
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Carotari became a stakes winner for the first time after digging in gamely through the stretch to register a neck decision over Fig Jelly in Saturday’s $75,000 Silks Run at Gulfstream Park.
With Emisael Jaramillo aboard, Carotari sprinted to command along the rail, disposed of 3-5 favorite Shekky Shebaz turning for home, then held off Fig Jelly to win for the second time in three starts since shipping locally for the winter. His lone local defeat came six weeks earlier when he was worn down late by Texas Wedge to finish second in the World of Trouble Stakes.
Fig Jelly, like Shekky Shebaz trained by Jason Servis, raced well placed outside horses and continued willingly down the stretch, finishing second against stakes company for the third time in his last six starts.
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Archidust, a three-time stakes winner last year, saved ground while never far back but lacked the necessary response when set down for the drive, finishing third, another neck behind Fig Jelly.
Shekky Shebaz, a troubled fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the World of Trouble, had no excuse in the Silks Run, tiring to be sixth after stalking the winner for the opening three-eighths.
Brian Lynch trains Carotari, a 4-year-old son of Artie Schiller, for owner William Branch. Carotari paid $8.80 after completing five furlongs in 54.99 over the firm course.
“He’s a very quick horse and had to be aggressive from the inside,” said Lynch. “I told Emisael to let him run early and if they want to come at you, he loves a dogfight. Fortunately he’s tough enough. Coming out of his last race, which I thought was a crackerjack, he trained well in between and he blew out beautifully the other day. Fingers crossed, he was sitting on a big race and he produced it today. He’s a gutty little horse. I’m very blessed to have him on our team and not be playing against him.”
Girls Know Best makes most of opportunity
Nobody was happier at scratch time on Saturday morning than trainer Eddie Kenneally when he learned that morning-line favorite Jean Elizabeth was not going to run in the $75,000 Captiva Island. That left the door open for his speedy filly Girls Know Best to register a half-length victory over Keota in the five-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares.
Girls Know Best had finished second and third behind Jean Elizabeth in her last two starts, both stakes, but with her nemesis sitting this one out, she became the one to beat in the Captiva Island. And she made the most of her opportunity.
With Edgard Zayas replacing the injured Jose Ortiz in the saddle, Girls Know Best went right to the lead as expected, shook off the 100-1 Knarsdale into the stretch, then held off a late try from Keota. Keota raced in the middle of the field during the early running, rallied between horses, and held second by a length over Violent Times.
Owned by Kenneally, Triton Stable and Brian Chenvert, Girls Know Best covered the distance in 55.06 and paid $3.40 for her 13th victory in 27 lifetime starts.