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Caravel
Caravel right before the 2023 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint
Sire	Mizzen Mast
Grandsire	Cozzene
Dam	Kinema
Damsire	Congrats
Sex	Mare
Foaled	March 1, 2017
Country	United States
Colour	Gray or Roan
Breeder	Elizabeth M. Merryman
Owner	1. Elizabeth M. Merryman (2017 – Jul 2021) 2. Elizabeth M. Merryman & Bobby Flay (Jul 2021 – Nov 2021) 3. Qatar Racing & Marc Detampel (Nov 2021 – Apr 2022) 4. Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel & Madaket Stables (Apr 2022 – Early 2024) 5. Resolute Bloodstock (Early 2024 – )
Trainer	1. Elizabeth M. Merryman (2017 – Jul 2021) 2. H. Graham Motion (Jul 2021 – Nov 2021) 3. Brad H. Cox (Nov 2021 – Dec 2023)
Record	26: 15–1–3
Earnings	$1,983,327
Major wins
Caress Stakes (2021) Intercontinental Stakes (2022) Franklin Stakes (2022) Shakertown Stakes (2023) Jaipur Stakes (2023) Breeders' Cup wins: Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (2022)
Awards
Pennsylvania Horse of the Year Champion Three Year Old Filly (2020) Older Female, Female Sprinter and Turf Female (2023) Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll (2022)
Last updated on 20 February 2024

Caravel (foaled March 1, 2017) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse. She won 15 races in her career, of which 13 were stakes races. Her top victories were in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 2022 and the Grade I Jaipur Stakes in 2023.

Background

Caravel is a gray or roan mare who was home bred in Pennsylvania by Elizabeth Merryman. Caravel was sired by Mizzen Mast who stood at Juddmonte Farms and in 2021 was pensioned. He had sired twelve Grade/Group 1 winners. Her dam Zeezee Zoomzoom was by Congrats but her dam (Zee Zee) was by Exchange Rate. Zee Zee won the Edgewood Stakes and was graded stakes-placed (Lake George Stakes, Regret Stakes), ran in the Breeders' Cup (Monmouth Park in 2008). Zeezee Zoomzoom has produced another winner for Merryman, Tipsy Chatter. In 2023 Zeezee Zoomzoom was awarded the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association Broodmare of the Year.

Elizabeth Merryman consigned Caravel to the 2020 October Wanamaker Sale after her fourth start but did not reach her reserve price of $330,000.

Ownership and training

Merryman trained Caravel in her first eight starts. In July 2021, she sold 75% interest in the horse to Bobby Flay. Caravel won the Grade III Caress Stakes for the new partnership, and they then sent her to trainer H. Graham Motion.

After three starts, Caravel was sold for $500,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale in November 2021 at Keeneland to Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel, who transferred her to the barn of Brad H. Cox. Madaket Stables joined the partnership after one event later in April 2022.

Career highlights

Caravel did not compete as a two-year-old. As a three-year-old, she was kept mostly in Pennsylvania, where she broke her maiden. She then won three more events, with her only defeat over a mile at Pimlico in the Hilltop Stakes.

As a four-year-old, Caravel opened her campaign in the Listed License Fee Stakes at Belmont Park. After leading, she weakened in the straight, finishing third to the French-bred She's My Type. Caravel then won three straight events, culminating with her first Graded stakes victory in the G3 Caress Stakes at Saratoga. After transferring to trainer H. Graham Motion following her Saratoga effort, she ran third at her first attempt in a Grade I event, the Highlander Stakes at Woodbine in Canada. She had two more starts in 2021, including a run in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar where she finished last in a field of twelve to Golden Pal. After the event, Caravel was auctioned.

In 2022, she began her five-year-old season with a victory for her new owners on the All-Weather track at Turfway Park in the Queen Stakes. Her other wins were in the Grade III Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont Park and the Grade III Franklin Stakes at Keeneland. Her connections then entered her in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, which was held at the same track a few weeks later.

In the Turf Sprint, Caravel started as a 43/1 longshot. The race did not unfold as anticipated, with jockey Tyler Gaffalione expecting to be in a stalking position behind Golden Pal, but the heavy favorite was shuffling around right before the gates opened and was back in 14th at the break. Caravel quickly found herself in the lead and continued to fend off her opposition, winning by a half-length in 1:01.79.

As a six-year-old, Caravel continued her winning streak, defeating her male counterparts in the GIII Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland and winning her second Grade I event at Belmont Park in the Jaipur Stakes. Originally it was planned to send her to Royal Ascot, but connections decided to stay in the US. Her victory in the Jaipur earned her a paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint since the stakes was part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" program.

The 2023 Jaipur was Caravel's final win, as she finished fourth in the Troy Stakes and second in the Franklin Stakes before failing to defend her Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint title, finishing tenth in the 12-horse field. Following the Breeders' Cup, she was sent to the auction ring at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where a final bid of $2.4 million was not enough to reach her reserve price. The following month, Caravel was retired; initially, Qatar Racing's Fergus Galvin said that she would be bred in 2024 to Triple Crown champion Justify. However, in February 2024 it was reported that Resolute Bloodstock owner John Stewart privately purchased Caravel, and the mare would be shipped to England to be bred to undefeated champion Frankel.

Statistics

Legend:
  All Weather Track   Dirt   Turf
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Caravel was the post-time favourite.

1. The allowance event was restricted to Pennsylvania bred thoroughbreds
2. The Malvern Rose Stakes is restricted to Pennsylvania Bred thoroughbreds
3. In the Turf Monster Stakes, Caravel finished sixth in a dead heat with Caratori. The winner Hollywood Talent was later disqualified for a positive test and placed ninth. Subsequently Caravel was promoted to fifth place and earned equal fifth prizemoney of $8,200
4. The winner of Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes, Artie's Princess set a track record of the 6+1⁄2–furlong distance
5. The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint is an event without sex restriction. Caravel faced male horses
6. The Shakertown Stakes is an event without sex restriction. Caravel faced male horses
7. The Jaipur Stakes is an event without sex restriction. Caravel faced male horses
8. The Troy Stakes is an event without sex restriction. Caravel faced male horses

Pedigree

References

1. ^ "Pedigree of Caravel". Equineline. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
2. ^ Russo, Nicole (16 February 2024). "Caravel purchased by John Stewart; will be bred to Frankel". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
3. ^ "Profile of Caravel (PA)". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
4. "Mizzen Mast's runners". Pedigree Thoroughbred Online Database. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
5. ^ Rollins, Molly (2 August 2021). "Caravel's Success No Surprise to Merryman; MarketWatch Interview: Lizzie Merryman". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
6. ^ Oser, Christine (24 July 2021). "Caravel Notches First Graded Victory in Caress; Pennsylvania Horse of the Year to be trained by Graham Motion after purchase by Flay". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
7. "Caravel Awarded Second PA-bred Horse of the Year Title; Caravel won five of eight starts at age 5 while always racing in stakes". bloodhorse.com. Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
8. ^ "Caravel Named Top Midlantic-Bred of 2022; The Breeders' Cup proved decisive in the voting for top Midlantic-bred of the year". bloodhorse.com. The Racing Biz. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
9. ^ "Queen Stakes Black Type – (Race 6)". Equibase. March 19, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
10. ^ "Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes presented by Sysco Grade 2 – (Race 10)". Equibase. May 6, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
11. ^ "Chart of Maiden Special Weight June 24, 2020 at Penn National (race 2)". Equibase. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
12. ^ "License Fee Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. May 14, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
13. ^ "Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
14. Mitchell, Eric (5 November 2022). "Caravel Tops Males in Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Shocker; Race complexion changed when two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal broke last". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
15. King, Byron (10 June 2022). "Caravel Wins Fifth Straight in Jaipur; The 6-year-old mare defeated world-class males once again in $400,000 Jaipur (G1T)". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
16. ^ King, Byron (15 December 2023). "Retired Caravel to be Bred to Justify". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
17. "Chart of Allowance July 29, 2020 at Penn National (race 1)". Equibase. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
18. "Lake Erie Stakes Black Type – (Race 5)". Equibase. August 24, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
19. "Hilltop Stakes Black Type - (race 4)". Equibase. October 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
20. "Malvern Rose Stakes Black Type – (Race 5)". Equibase. October 20, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
21. "Goldwood Stakes The Very One Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. May 14, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
22. "Goldwood Stakes Black Type - (race 5)". Equibase. June 25, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
23. "Caress Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
24. "Highlander Stakes Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 22 August 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
25. "Turf Monster Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 26 September 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
26. "Intercontinental Stakes Grade 3 – (Race 11)". Equibase. June 10, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
27. "Caress Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
28. "Smart N Fancy Stakes (race 9)". Equibase. August 20, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
29. "Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 – (Race 8)". Equibase. September 19, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
30. "Franklin Stakes Grade 3 – (Race 7)". Equibase. October 16, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
31. "Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Grade 1 – (Race 4)". Equibase. November 5, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
32. "Shakertown Stakes Grade 2 – (Race 8)". Equibase. April 8, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
33. "Unbridled Sidney Stakes presented by Turfway Park Racing & Gaming Listed – (Race 8)". Equibase. May 5, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
34. "Jaipur Stakes Grade 1 – (Race 9)". June 10, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
35. "Troy Stakes Grade 3 – (Race 6)". August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
36. "Franklin Stakes Grade 2 – (Race 7)". Equibase. October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
37. "Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Grade 1 – (Race 10)". Equibase. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
38. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – SQUIRREL MARE (GB) – Family 2-b". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved July 3, 2023.

• 2017 racehorse births
• Racehorses bred in Pennsylvania
• Racehorses trained in the United States
• Thoroughbred family 2-b
• American Grade 1 Stakes winners
• Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winners