In the final Mid-Atlantic Purebred/Top Mid-Atlantic Hybrid Poll of 2022, Caravel, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, took the title. the highest, marking the fifth year in a row the top Mid-Atlantic breeder is also a Breeders’ Cup winner.
Once again, the Breeders’ Cup proved decisive in the vote for the top Midlantic breed of the year, as victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint brought the Caravel to the top of the leaderboard as the Midlantic Hybrid. top of 2022 in the vote for the year’s final Mid-Atlantic Purebred Breeds Poll / Top Mid-Atlantic Crossbreeds Poll of the Year Racing Biz.
Mizzen Mast’s half-Pennsylvania daughter enjoyed success throughout the year, with five winnings on four different tracks in eight starts. The next season’s exclamation point comes in at the Turf Sprint, which she won in gate style 42-1. She became the sixth Pennsylvania-born to win a Breeders’ Cup race, joining Go For Wand, Tikkanen, Alphabet Soup, Finest City and Shamrock Rose.
For the fifth year in a row, the horse that was voted the top Midlantic cross has earned the title in part thanks to its victory in the Breeders’ Cup race.
Frank Vespe, owner and publisher of The Racing Biz said: “The depth and quality of the mid-Atlantic crossbreeding programs is truly astounding. “It’s exciting to see these horses compete at the pinnacle of the sport.”
Caravel raced for breeder Lizzie Merryman in her first eight starts. She won two bet races at the age of 3 at the Presque Isle Downs in 2020 and finished third in the Hilltop at Pimlico.
“She showed a lot of promise very early on.” Merryman said. “When she was a child she was very beautiful and athletic. I let Danielle Hodsdon gallop with her when I was 2 years old and we talk about her every day. Danielle galloped (the horse). champion) Together Forever, and she said to me, ‘This dirty thing reminds me of Forever Together.'”
However, it was only when he was four years old that Caravel really took off, winning three shares in a row. After the second of them, which was the fourth bet win of her career, at the Goldwood Stakes at Monmouth Park in June 2021, Merryman sold 75% of the profits to Bobby Flay, transferring the horse for trainer Graham Motion as part of the sale.
Caravel started yet again in Merryman’s barn, claiming the first graded bet win of his career with a 2 1/2 win in the Caress-G3 tournament in Saratoga. She then started three times in Motion’s barn, the third in Highlander Grade 1 at Woodbine, the best of them all.
At the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale in 2021, Caravel sold for $500,000 to Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables, who moved her to Brad Cox’s warehouse. Cox has previously coached the Knicks Go, the top Midlantic breed of 2020 and 2021.
Caravel started her season with a win in the Queen Stakes at Turfway Park on March 19. Two starts later, she’s won the second-ranked bet of her Intercontinental career- G3 at Belmont Park on June 10. After finishing the season brilliantly in a repeat attempt in Caress, Caravel returned to claim the Smart N Fancy in Saratoga on August 20. finished fourth upon returning to his home state in the Presque Isle Downs Masters-G2 on September 19, but then recovered to win the Franklin-G3 at Keeneland on October 16, the final match her last before the Breeders’ Cup defeat.
“Unbelievable.” Merryman talks about Caravel’s Breeders’ Cup victory. “After Saratoga, she really blossomed, worked out well, gained a lot of weight, but she hasn’t shown that she can flirt with men. She proved it there. She ran really well. .”
In December, Merryman received the John Deere Award from the Breeders’ Cup, which highlights breeders’ contributions to the program.
“I can’t help but think how proud my parents (John and Kitty) would be.” Merryman said. “My father was very passionate about breeders and breeders, so all this is to pay tribute to him and what he has passed on to all of us.”
Pennsylvania hybrids make up four of the top five spots in this year’s survey. Just One Time, the Madison-G1 winner at Keeneland in April, came in second after leading the poll for most of the year. Five-time bet winner Fortheluvofbourbon placed fourth, while Morning Matcha, who won the Main Line at Parx in March and was graded three times, was fifth.
“Breeders across the region are breeding excellent horses,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, which publishes the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred. “It’s important to take a moment to reflect and celebrate those accomplishments.”
Sandwiched in the middle was the Maryland-born Fille d’Esprit, who finished third. Claimed $10,000 two years ago by CJI Phoenix Corporation and No Guts No Glory Farm, intern Jerry Robb had a busy campaign, winning 5 stake races from 13 starts. She was bet five more times, including her attempt to finish third in the Barbara Fritchie-G3 at Laurel Park in February.
Rounding out the top seven are Fortheluvofbourbon (PA), Morning Matcha (PA), Knicks Go (MD) and Muad’dib (WV).
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