From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 28, 2022)—Despite a soft early pace, favored Carmalita’s Man rallied from last to take Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita by three quarters of a length under Juan Hernandez. Trained by Dean Pederson and owned by Larry and Ann Jett, the 5-year-old gelding by Mucho Macho Man got one mile on turf in 1:37.26.
A part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series, the Crystal Water is for eligible California-bred or sired horses three and up.
Bred in California by Richard Barton Enterprises and Robert Traynor, Carmelita’s Man, who is out of the North Light mare Carmelita, picked up his fifth win from 18 career starts and with the winner’s share of $60,000, increased his earnings to $276,538.
With Loud Mouth and Umberto Rispoli showing the way early, Carmelita’s Man settled into a rhythmic stride around the first turn just outside of Irish Heatwave and about three off the lead. Turning for home, Carmelita’s Man, under confident handling, had about five lengths to make up while three deep and under a hand ride, gained the advantage with about 40 yards to run.
“This horse tries all the time and he is such a friendly horse,” said jockey Juan Hernandez. “He gives you whatever you want. I just took a hold of him. Once we got to the three-eighth’s pole I started to work him because he has a tendency to get lazy. Once we hit the stretch, he changed leads and we ran them down. I was worried about the slow pace. I could feel it. We stayed close enough where I felt we could get home.”
In his first ever stakes engagement, Carmelita’s Man was off as the 7-5 favorite in a field of five and paid $4.80, $2.40 and $2.10.
“He’s the type of horse where you can’t let the pace dictate how you ride him,” said trainer Dean Pederson. “If you try to force the issue too much, then he doesn’t finish. Juan knows how to ride him. I told him to make sure he had him in high gear turning for home, and it worked out really well.”
Jimmy Blue Jeans, ridden by Kyle Frey, sat a close second early, made the lead mid-way around the far turn and held off Irish Heatwave by a head for second money.
The second choice at 2-1, Jimmy Blue Jeans paid $3.40 and $2.40.
Ridden by Joe Bravo, Irish Heatwave finished 3 ¼ lengths in front of Loud Mouth. Off at 3-1, Irish Heatwave paid $2.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 24.47, 48.35, 1:13.08 and 1:25.09.