Kimari targets Madison after Spring Fever romp

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Kimari has run some big races, but none bigger than the powerful performance she turned in Saturday at Oaklawn when winning the $200,000 Spring Fever.

Kimari stalked the pace, took over, then separated herself from her rivals for an authoritative 4 1/4-length win. The start was her first since September.

“She certainly ran the race of her life,” said Wesley Ward, who trains Kimari for Ten Broeck Farm.

Ward said Kimari is now being pointed to the Grade 1, $300,000 Madison for fillies and mares at seven furlongs April 3 at Keeneland.

Kimari earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 97 for her Spring Fever win after covering 5 1/2 furlongs in the slop in 1:04.07. Past highlights from the Munnings filly include a 15-length debut win over males in 2019; a stakes victory over colts the same year in the Indian Summer at Keeneland; and a runner-up finish against males in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup last year at Royal Ascot.

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“She’s a big, imposing type of filly,” Ward said. “She only had a couple of starts last year. She’s kind of filling into that big frame of hers. The race she ran the other day was sensational.”

Ward said Kimari has since been shipped to Keeneland.