Caravel (Inside) duels with Bad Beat Brian for the win. (JennyPhoto/Past The Wire)
By Maribeth Kalinich
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables LLC’s Caravel ran a steadfast race for trainer Brad Cox winning the $350,000 Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland Race Course on Toyota Blue Grass Day.
Under Tyler Gaffalione Caravel jumped to the lead and skimming the rail just ahead of Bad Beat Brian. Christopher Emigh up, with a tight pack behind them setting an opening quarter of 21.86.
Caravel tried to pull away, but Bad Beat Brian clung to his outside with Stitched on the rail shadowing Caravel with a half of 44.77.
Coming down the stretch it was Bad Beat Brian and Caravel neck-and-neck with Arrest Me Red moving up to third on the outside of Oceanic piloted by Edgar Morales vying for third. Mark of the Z with E. Baird in the irons was moving up into fifth with Bakers Bay as Stitched was fading.
As Arrest Me Red under Joel Rosario battled Oceanic for eventual third place, Caravel dueled for the win by a neck over Bad Beat Brian.
Noble Emothion, Mister Mmmmm, All in Sync, Artemus Cilylimits and Johnny Unleashed complete the order of finish.
The final time for the 5-1/2 furlongs was 1:02.58.
Caravel paid $6.30 for the win, 4.82 for place and 3.60 for show. Bad Beat Brian paid a whopping $23.60 and $10.34 to lucky punters. Arrest Me Red paid $4.26 for show.
A gray colt by Mizzen Mast out of Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, Caravel was bred n Pennsylvania by Elizabeth M. Merryman. Caravel was purchased for $500,000 at the Fasig-Tipton 2021 Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale.
This was Caravel’s third graded stakes win in a row having capture the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) in November and the Franklin Stakes (G3) in September, all at Keeneland.
Her 6-year-old debut, Caravel now has a career record of 13 wins in 21 starts with 3 third places and earnings of $1.5 million.
Quotes for the $350,000 Shakertown (G2)
Sheikh Fahad of Qatar Racing (winning co-owner of Caravel): “It was nice to see her gutsy performance. She did that in (winning) the Breeders’ Cup (Turf Sprint-G1 at Keeneland last year), and she did it again today. It is very hard once you get headed to come back again, but it was nice to see and I think it bodes well for the future for her.
“It wasn’t that difficult (to decide to come back this year after what she accomplished last season). My brothers and I had a chat, and they want good horses running around the world. She fits the bill perfectly, so it wasn’t that tough, to be honest.
“It’s lovely (to win at Keeneland); I always love winning at Keeneland. (Qatar Racing won with) Peace and War in the (2014 Darley) Alcibiades (G1) before, and it’s lovely winning Grade 1s at Keeneland. It’s a fantastic race course, a fantastic atmosphere, and I’m happy to be here.”
Tyler Gaffalione (winning rider): “I loved it (when she came back after being headed by runner-up Bad Beat Brian in the stretch). She showed so much heart there. She’s a tremendous filly. I’m just lucky enough to be able to guide her around there. (Whether she wants the lead) depends on her break. She’s a very alert filly. She jumped well today, so I didn’t want to take anything away from her.”
Chris Emigh (rider of runner-up Bad Beat Brian): “Great trip. I knew I was on the outside of the big favorite. I was going to stalk her and try and get her, and I got by her. I was a neck in front most of the lane. She kept fighting back and just refused to lose and caught me right at the last jump. I wanted to cry.”
Joel Rosario (rider of third-place finisher Arrest Me Red): “He broke really well. We were in a good spot. Sometimes it’s not easy to be on the outside. He handled everything well and came with a run. I thought for a second that I might get him there, but the other two were a little better today.”
Edgar Morales (rider of fourth-place finisher Oceanic): “Great trip. He tried the whole way, but they (the leaders) never came back to me. They’re nice horses; they never stop. He did everything good. Hopefully next time we’ll get it.”
