Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Carmelita’s Man looking for allowance race before break
DEL MAR, Calif. – Carmelita’s Man has been the star California-bred in turf stakes in recent months, winning the Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita in May and Saturday’s California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar.
Without a similar race in coming months, Carmelita’s Man is likely to appear in an allowance race on turf before the end of the Del Mar summer meeting on Sept. 11.
For a two-time stakes winner in 2022, Carmelita’s Man retains allowance conditions since the recent wins do not count against his eligibility under rules developed by California tracks to boost opportunities for statebreds.
Considering Carmelita’s Man’s recent performances, the 5-year-old gelding could be a danger in such an allowance race.
Carmelita’s Man has won 6 of 19 starts and earned $362,038 for owners Larry and Ann Jett.
“He’s always been a very consistent horse,” trainer Dean Pederson said Sunday morning.
In the California Dreamin’ Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf, Carmelita’s Man closed along the rail to win by a head as the 3-1 favorite, edging 22-1 Bang for Your Buck in a field of 11. Carmelita’s Man was in need of a race after recent sharp workouts, including a half-mile in 47.80 seconds on July 31.
“He’s been kind of lackadaisical in his works and his last two works have been quite fast,” Pederson said. “You hope he doesn’t leave it out there in the morning. Everything went his way.”
Carmelita’s Man is nearing a late-season rest, particularly if Pederson can find a suitable allowance race in coming weeks.
“If we can get one more race into him, we can give him a break and get ready for the winter,” Pederson said.
Maiden winners point to stakes
The benefit of race experience in recent weeks and months helped Packs a Wahlop and Mister Iceman win maiden special weight races on Friday and Saturday at Del Mar, and moved the promising colts closer to their first start in stakes.
Packs a Wahlop, trained by Jeff Mullins for Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal, won his California debut in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf on Friday. Ridden by Mike Smith, Packs a Wahlop stalked the pace to early stretch before pulling clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 58.03 seconds.
“He’s a good horse,” Mullins said. “We’ll have to see where we go. If he gets to go a mile, he’ll be better. Mike said he didn’t have to show him much.”
Mullins mentioned options such as the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile on Sept. 11 or a $500,000 race at Kentucky Downs – such as the Juvenile Mile on Sept. 3 or the Juvenile Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 8 as options.
Packs a Wahlop, by Creative Cause, was fourth in his debut June 3 at Gulfstream Park. The colt was purchased for $270,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training in April.
Mister Iceman is likely to start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 11 after winning his second start Saturday in a maiden race at five furlongs on dirt.
Ridden by Ramon Vazquez, Mister Iceman disputed the early pace, took the lead on the turn, and won by a neck over the first-time starter Hawker in 58.17 seconds.
“He showed a lot of grit and heart,” trainer Peter Miller said. “He took all the pressure and kept going.”
By Girvin, Mister Iceman was second to the well-regarded Havnameltdown in a maiden race at five furlongs on July 24.
Owned by Gary Barber, Mister Iceman was purchased for $80,000 at Ocala in April.
Havnameltdown, who made his debut July 24, is a probable starter in Sunday’s Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs, a key prep for the Del Mar Futurity.
Other candidates for the $200,000 Best Pal include Agency, Arman, Jin Tong, King Adrock, Man Child, Pop d’Oro, President Z, Quagmire Magic, and Tahoma.
Saturday’s Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs is expected to produce starters for the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 10.
The undefeated Vegas Magic, winner of the Everett Nevin Stakes against males on July 9 at Pleasanton, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 on Sunday. Abel Cedillo rode Vegas Magic to a win in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on June 11 at Santa Anita and has the mount in the $200,000 Sorrento.
Vegas Magic’s competition in the Sorrento is expected to include Absolutely Zero, Dazzlingdominika, Halosnheaven, Outofnothingatall, Procrastination, and Satin Doll.