Caravel Back at Keeneland for 2023 Debut in Shakertown

Some five months after topping a field that included males in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), Caravel  is back at the scene of that upset for a start in the $350,000 Shakertown Stakes (G2T) April 8 at Keeneland.

Like her Breeders' Cup win, Caravel again will face males in Saturday's 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint on the Haggin Course. The race should see a full field of 12 as 13 horses are entered, with Nobody Listens , a recent stakes winner at Turfway Park, carrying also-eligible status.

Trained by Brad Cox for owners Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel, and Madaket Stables, Caravel led at every call of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on her way to a half-length win over Emaraaty Ana . Caravel was followed home that afternoon by a trio of European-trained runners. 

"Beating the boys in the Breeders' Cup has just been the thrill of a lifetime," said Detampel, who is relishing a chance to campaign Caravel in her 6-year-old season. "We're seeing more of her personality come out. She's so comfortable in her own skin these days; she totally understands what she needs to do and she's become more playful and has fun with it. 

"She also seems to understand that she's something special now. Sometimes they come back from a big win like that and they just seem to have that understanding. She knows she's special."

With two wins in as many starts, Keeneland appears to be a perfect place to return to racing for the daughter of Mizzen Mast . Her 42-1 upset in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint there followed her clear victory in the Franklin Stakes (G3T) on the same course 20 days before the World Championships. The Franklin was restricted to fillies and mares but Caravel has regularly taken on males.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione was aboard for both previous stakes wins at Keeneland and is scheduled to ride Saturday.

Bred in Pennsylvania by her initial owner, Elizabeth Merryman, Caravel will enter Saturday's test with 12 wins—including 10 stakes victories—from 20 starts. She'll look to add to her 4-for-6 record at the distance on turf. Merryman, at times in partnership, campaigned Caravel until March 2022 when the mare was sold privately.

While Caravel aims to add to her Keeneland success, trainer Wesley Ward will look for another Shakertown victory. Ward has won the past two editions of the Shakertown, last year with Golden Pal   and in 2021 with Bound for Nowhere , who also won this race in 2018.

Ward, who has won the Shakertown four times overall, this year has entered Arrest Me Red , a grade 1-placed, two-time graded stakes winner who, like Caravel, will be making his first start since the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Campaigned by his breeder, Lael Stables, the 5-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile  won last year's Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs, finished second in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park, and was eighth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Another making his first start since the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint is Artemus Citylimits , who finished fifth in that test for trainer Mike Maker and owners Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, and Michael Dubb. The 6-year-old son of Temple City   has placed in a pair of grade 2 stakes.