Lady Pimpernel Makes Delayed US Debut in Red Carpet

 

A private purchase in England in September by Triton Racing LLC trained by Carla Gaines, Lady Pimpernel was shipped across the Atlantic with the intention of running in a Breeders’ Cup prep race at Santa Anita in October but was accorded also eligible status and did not get an opportunity to compete.

 

At that point, Gaines said, the target for the winner of four of 14 lifetime starts became the Bing Crosby meeting and the 1 3/8-mile Red Carpet (formerly Beverly Hills Handicap) for older female runners.

 

“You don’t get a lot of chances for these type of races,” Gaines said. “Missing (the Santa Anita race) was a disappointment, but now she’s had time (seven weeks) to acclimate.”

 

Only one Red Carpet entrant, trainer Bill Mott’s Modernstone, has raced at the 1 3/8th-mile distance in 2014. Lady Pimpernel won her last two starts in England, at Newmarket on August 2 and Salisbury on August 13. Both were 1 ¼ miles. 

 

“I don’t think the distance will be an issue,” Gaines said. “She’s a solid mile-and-a-quarter horse and she’s training very well.”

 

The field for the Red Carpet, in post position order with oddsmaker Russ Hudak’s morning line is: Appealing Cat (Rafael Bejarano, 7-2), Winning Rhythm (Alex Solis, 5-1), Hijra (Elvis Trujillo, 5-1),  Left A Message (Gary Stevens, (15-1), Luscious Lonna (William Antongeorgi III, 12-1), Bee Brave (Martin Garcia, 20-1), Modernstone (Martin Pedroza, 15-1), Three Hearts (Joe Talamo, 15-1), Lady Pimpernel (Victor Espinoza, 6-1), Lady Of Gold (Kent Desormeaux, 6-1), and Scooter Bird (Corey Nakatani, 9-2). The also eligibles are Macaabra (Fernando Perez, 20-1) and Soresca (Tiago Pereira, 20-1).

 

Source: Del Mar Communications/Hank Wesch