Karama shows the way in Stormy Blues Stakes

The filly Karama had shown ability sprinting on dirt and routing on turf, and in the $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes on Sunday at Laurel Park she found an ideal set of circumstances turf sprinting for the first time.

Breaking sharply from the rail, Karama went straight to the front, laid down fractions of 22.57 and 45.04 seconds, and cruised home a 1 3/4-length winner over Change of Control, who won a place photo with 6-5 favorite Introduced.

Karama, Mychel Sanchez riding for owner-breeder Shadwell Farm and trainer Michael Pino, ran 5 1/2 furlongs over firm ground in 1:02.59 and paid $11.60 to win.

By Kitten’s Joy out of Safarjal, by Marju, Karama ran good races going seven furlongs on dirt in her first two career starts earlier this season, then was switched to turf, setting the pace and holding second going two turns in the Boiling Spring Stakes at Monmouth. Karama tried another two-turn Monmouth turf route, the Open Mind, on June 7, and this time faded to seventh after making the early running.

“I was very disappointed with her last race, but she checked out good and I figured she might want one turn,” Pino said. “A lot of horses will go first time long and the second time will tell the tale. She just wants one turn.”