H.F. Carmel surprises in off-turf Tomboy Stakes

H.F. Carmel led home a parade of longshots while winning an off-the-turf edition of the $75,000 Tomboy Stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies on Sunday at Belterra Park.

H.F. Carmel ($15.80), sent away as the fifth wagering choice in the field of 10, was seventh after a half mile under Gerardo Corrales. The filly made her move around the far turn, skimming the rail, and struck the front into the stretch, quickly pulling away. She continued to draw off to win by 4 1/4 lengths, finishing the 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:47.12.

Market Success, the second-longest shot on the board, came through traffic to snatch second, triggering a $159 exacta. Another 1 1/2 lengths behind her came Drillit in third. They were followed by Totally Obsessed, Hey Adrian, Double D's Revenge, Candy Lane, favored Absorb, Pearls in Charge, and Here Comes Jigs, who stumbled at the start and lost her rider.

H.F. Carmel, who races as a homebred for Harold Fishman and is trained by Mike Rone, was winning her first stakes race in the Tomboy. She came in off a runner-up effort in an allowance race last month at Mahoning Valley.