LEXINGTON, Ky.--Caraval, a Pa-bred bred by Elizabeth M. (Liz) Merryman on her farm in Coatesville, won the $1 Million Turf Sprint at Keeneland  by 1/2 length over a field of 14 the best sprinters from the U.S., Ireland, Great Britain and France.

Caravel winning the Goldwood Stakes at Monmouth while still being trained by Merryman (Photo by Equi Photo)Merryman not only bred the 5-year-old mare, she also trained and raced her as 2- and 3-year-old, with seven wins and two thirds, before selling her for an undisclosed price to Bobby Flay, while retaining a quarter interest in her.

Caravel was then sold at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale in 2021 for $500,000 and is now owned by Qatar Racing, Mark Detampel and Madaket Stables and is trained by Brad Cox.

"Caravel was doing really well," said Merryman, who went to Keeneland to watch the race. "I was excited to see her run well. But I hadn't expected her to win. She was running against the best turf sprinters from all over the world."

Although she no longer owns an interest in Caravel, Merryman said that she still got quite a lot out of the mare's winning a Breeders' Cup race.

"I get an award as the breeder who nominated her, although I don't know how much that is, and I have five of her siblings," said Merryman.

Caravel is out of Zeezee Zommzoom, and Merryman still has the mare and continues to breed her and has five of her get.

 

MERRYMAN has handed over the training of these youngsters to her son McLane Hendriks although she still keeps a close interest in their doings.

"Tipsy Chatter, a 4-year-old is retired now," said Merryman. "She raced as a 2- and 3-year-old. She was training really well this spring, but then she injured her shoulder. I'm going to breed her this spring."

Tipsy Chatter, by Bourbon Courage, had one win, five seconds and one third from 13 starts, mostly in allowance races.

While in Kentucky for the Breeders' Cup, Merryman said she looked at stallions and, while she hasn't decided who to breed her to, favors Dare Devil and Practical Joker.

"Witty is the 3-year-old," said Merryman. "He ran in the Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx  on Sept. 24 and got hit in the eye pretty badly. He has an eye ulcer, so he's laid up for now."

Witty, by Great Nation, is a multiple stakes winner with four wins and two seconds from nine starts.

Mission Man, by Holy Boss, is the 2-year-old," said Merryman. "He's a gelding, and he's raced twice, finishing third and fifth. He was going through a growth spurt, so we brought him home for a couple of weeks. He just back at the track. I'm not sure he likes the turf."

"I have a yearling colt who is a full brother to Witty," said Merryman."He's with Carl Rafter being broken. And then there's a weanling filly by Street Boss."

Brad Cox has done an amazing job with Caravel," she said. "He treats every horse as an individual."