Carpathia stretching out for Soviet Problem Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. – Carpathia kept up with the rest of her family when she won a maiden race for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar on Nov. 5 in her second start.

Six of Carpathia’s older half-siblings have won a race, but none is a stakes winner. Carpathia can become the first in the family to do so in Saturday’s $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies at a mile at Los Alamitos.

The distance of the race suits Carpathia, said trainer Phil D’Amato.

:: Get extended Cyber Monday discounts on PPs, digital subscriptions, and more!

“I think she wants to run all day,” D’Amato said. “She’s a long-striding filly. It’s a good spot to test the waters.”

By Exchange Rate, Carpathia is out of Melinda Rose, a mare by Malek who won twice in a seven-race career. Two of Melinda Rose’s foals are stakes placed – Carrie Rose and Kluszewski. Carpathia is owned and was bred by Nick Alexander.

Carpathia was a troubled eighth in her debut at Los Alamitos on Sept. 10 and rebounded to win at Del Mar in a race at six furlongs.

The list of eight projected runners in the Soviet Problem Stakes is led by the stakes winners One Fast Broad and Spiced Perfection, the first two finishers in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 3. Spiced Perfection won the Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar in September.

Ismelucky, fourth in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies, is expected to start. She won the Barretts Debutante at Los Alamitos in September.