SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables’ Caravel returned to winning form in Saturday’s $150,000 Smart N Fancy, posting a half-length score as the betting public’s second choice, at Saratoga Race Course.
The gray or roan mare has now crossed the finish line first in 3-of-5 starts this campaign, recording wins at three different tracks [Turfway Park, Belmont Park and Saratoga] and has also recorded wins at Penn National, Presque Isle Downs, Pimlico and Monmouth Park.
Conditioned by Brad Cox, the 5-year-old Mizzen Mast mare was prominent throughout under Luis Saez in the 5 1/2-furlong Smart N Fancy over firm Mellon turf, posting a half-length score over a rallying Change of Control to register a 94 Beyer. The victory came on the heels of a troubled trip in the Grade 3 Caress on July 23 here, where she finished last-of-9.
“She’s one of the top filly and mare turf sprinters in the country,” said Cox.
Cox said that the Smart N Fancy was originally not on the radar for Caravel, but he felt the horse earned another race at Saratoga after not getting to show her true colors in the Caress.
“We didn’t come up here with plans on running in this race,” said Cox. “With what happened in the last one, we definitely found ourselves taking a shot yesterday.
“It plays a big role in the decisions you make when there are options. It was kind of a late audible just to run there. I spoke to the owners the week of and thought we should at least enter and look at it. With the post we got, we thought it made sense to give her a shot,” added Cox.
Cox said Caravel will target the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters on September 19 at Presque Isle Downs.
Bred in Pennsylvania by Elizabeth Merryman, Caravel is a lifetime winner of $647,777 and boasts an impressive record of 10-0-3 in 17 career starts.
NYRA Press Office
Photo: Caravel wins the Smart N Fancy (NYRA/Coglianese)
