Jasmina (L) and My Love Caroline (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press/Edited
DEL MAR, Calif.—Reddam Racing’s Jasmina was moved up from second to first with the disqualification of My Love Caroline Sunday in the 72nd edition of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes for California-bred fillies at Del Mar.
The race favorite, Liberation, broke slowly but then was squeezed and stumbled several jumps out of the gate. The stewards determined that jockey Armando Ayuso aboard My Love Caroline shut off the favorite and caused enough of an issue to require disqualification.
“Man, I thought the head bob had gone my way, but I still congratulated Armanda (Ayuso), just in case, to be a good sport. I still had my fingers crossed,” said eventual winning jockey Frey.
“I will say when I saw the result on the board, it was a little upsetting, but on the same note, my filly tried so hard, and she just acted like a complete pro. So regardless I was still very proud of her. And then when I saw the numbers flashing and watched the video, I started to get a little excited.
“Though my horse did step in, it seemed like they (#5 and #6) shifted into my hip, which caused me to pull down a tad bit. In which case I grabbed and corrected immediately and thank God, I did because clearly the stewards took notice of the effort,” added Frey.
The final order of finish then was Jasmina, Lovinger, Moroney or Ryan, et al’s Tapatia Mia in second and Hall Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, Barker, et al’s Liberation third.
My Love Caroline had finished first by a nose in a time of :59.02 for the five furlongs.
Jasmina paid $8.20 for a $2 ticket. She earned a first prize of $57,000 from the gross purse of $100,500. She now has earnings of $85,560 for two wins in three starts.
“You don’t want to win it like that, but she ran a great race. When she broke good and got a nice trip and the favorite was a long way back, I was thinking this is going to plan. She’s a tough filly. She doesn’t show you a whole bunch in the morning, but she steps up in the afternoon. Win or lose she’s such a trier,” remarked winning trainer Callaghan.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Frey and trainer Callaghan and the first for both in the CTBA. He now has six stakes wins at Del Mar.
Liberation had gone off as the 1/2 favorite in the field of seven. She had been a smart winner of her debut at Santa Anita in May.
Racing returns to the shore oval on Thursday with a first post of 2 p.m.
