Dan Pride, chief operating officer of Godolphin USA, shepherded a large group on the rail Oct. 23 in the moments after the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
"We're gonna wait for the stewards," he told his friends, pointing to the tote board. "Come on, put up that number eight!"
The number eight did indeed flash upon the screen as Godolphin's homebred Caramel Swirl emerged the victress in a photo finish almost too close to call. After a thrilling stretch run and a game duel with 24-1 shot Joy's Rocket, the 3-year-old Union Rags filly edged a head in front to claim her first graded stakes score and a milestone achievement for Godolphin at the Lexington track.
It was the eighth graded stakes score by a Godolphin runner at Keeneland, earning the global Thoroughbred operation a golden tray as part of the track's signature milestone trophy program. Only 22 distinguished outfits have ever won the Keeneland tray, which was first awarded to Hasty House Farm during the 1955 spring meet.
"Everything about Keeneland is special for us," said Jimmy Bell, president and racing manager for Godolphin USA. "To be able to come here and race and compete and to have the privilege of having eight graded stakes wins here is very enjoyable for everybody, especially for Sheikh Mohammed. This being another homebred filly for the program, which he's so proud of. We're so happy that we could have so many of the staff from the farm over here to enjoy the celebration, and it just adds an extra layer of enjoyment when you have so many people involved that can be on hand to enjoy this together."
The win was the first graded stakes score for Caramel Swirl, who is out of the Smart Strike mare Caramel Snap, a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner and Darley stallion Frosted . It was also a level her connections hoped she could achieve after a flat fourth in the Aug. 27 Charles Town Oaks (G3) and a seventh in the Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Smithfield (G2) earlier this spring, a jump she took after breaking her maiden April 9 by 10 1/4 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott at Keeneland. She picked up a solid allowance score between the Eight Belles and her Charles Town trip with a three-length win July 24 at Saratoga Race Course.
"Her first three races, I think she was second, second, second... then it was her turn here at Keeneland when she won by (more than) 10 lengths and really looked like the kind of filly we were hoping to see," said Bell. "Went up to Saratoga, had a great win there, down to Charles Town and it wasn't our best effort, but Billy was very confident that we could come back here over the same track she ran so well on and be very competitive."
Third time in graded company was the charm, as Caramel Swirl settled off the pace three wide under Junior Alvarado, while Strong Silent took the field of 11 through opening fractions of :22.66 and :45.89 before conceding the advantage to Cilla through three-quarters in 1:10.90. Joy's Rocket, moving from fifth at the half-mile marker, and Caramel Swirl, closing from seventh at the same point, made a simultaneous bid as Alvarado shifted the eventual winner out five wide entering the lane to commence a rally in upper stretch.
"Today we were in a little tough spot on the backside, and I needed to get a little bit out of that spot because I wasn't really comfortable there, and she helped me to get out of there," Alvarado said. "Then at the same time, when I decided to pick it up a little bit to stay in contention, she was there for me…It was a great battle. They both are great fillies and neither of them wanted to lose the race. They were digging down to the wire."
Caramel Swirl ($8.60) covered seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.42, improving her record to 3-3-1 from nine starts with earnings of $317,300. It was two lengths back to Cilla in third, and another four lengths back to Shalimar Gardens, who was followed in order by Souper Sensational, favored Obligatory, Miss Speedy, Strong Silent, Minute Waltz, Someone Said So, and Zainalarab. Feeling Mischief and Just Read It were scratched.
"This was a tough field and credit to Junior as well, he gave a great ride, and to the filly's credit, (she) never gave up, showed a lot of grit and determination, and got the bob at the right time," said Bell.
Future plans for Caramel Swirl will be developed in the days ahead. She is the second winner from three foals to race out of her dam, who also produced the winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Caramelito. Caramel Snap has a 2-year-old Bernardini filly named Amaretti, a yearling colt by Street Sense , and a Street Sense colt foaled May 7. She was reported bred back to Union Rags for 2022.
"We're going to celebrate a little bit here," Bell said. "That was a big circle on the calendar, to see if she could become a grade 2 winner, which was very meaningful—out of Frosted's family—and we're very excited for her to have her moment of glory in the circle today."
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