Jasmina wins CTBA Stakes via DQ, stewards drop My Love Caroline to fourth

DEL MAR, Calif. - My Love Caroline finished a nose in front of Jasmina in Sunday’s $100,500 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes at Del Mar, but was disqualified and placed fourth after track stewards ruled the filly caused interference shortly after the start of the five-furlong race.

The stewards demoted My Love Caroline for drifting out and causing Liberation to stumble a few strides into the race for California-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Stewards Grant Baker and Luis Jauregui voted to disqualify My Love Caroline from first to fourth. Steward Kim Sawyer said she dissented with that opinion, and argued for a double disqualification, assigning blame to both My Love Caroline and Jasmina, who started to the outside of Liberation and appeared to drift to the inside shortly after the start.

The stewards reviewed the race for nine minutes before announcing the decision.

Liberation, the 1-2 favorite, was promoted from fourth to third. She was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by My Love Caroline.

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Tapatia Mia (6-1) finished third in the original order of finish, a half-length in front of Liberation, and was promoted to second.

In the altered order of finish, My Love Caroline was followed by Mustang Knicky, Lino’s Angel and Lady Victoria.

Jockey Hector Berrios said Liberation was unable to recover from the early incident.

“She wasn’t comfortable,” Berrios said. “When she stumbled, she lost the race.”

My Love Caroline (10-1) was timed in 59.02 seconds. Ridden by Armando Ayuso, My Love Caroline stalked early pacesetter Mustang Knicky before contesting the lead with Jasmina in early stretch. The two fillies were nearly inseparable through the final furlong.

Jasmina, by Listing, was ridden by Kyle Frey for owners and breeder Paul and Zillah Reddam and trainer Simon Callaghan. Jasmina was fifth in her debut in a maiden race on turf against open company at Santa Anita on May 30, and won her second start by five lengths in a maiden race at five furlongs for statebreds at Los Alamitos on June 28.

Jasmina has earned $85,560.

My Love Caroline, a filly by Stay Thirsty, races for Tricar Stables and Jorge Periban. She won a maiden race for state-bred fillies by 3 1/4 lengths in her second start at Santa Anita on June 14.

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