The betting public thought the July 27 $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) at Saratoga Race Course was a slam dunk. Bella Sofia, a four-time graded stakes winner, was the 3-5 post time favorite for a reason.
Trainer Wesley Ward didn't agree with that one bit. He had said in the days leading up to the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares that his 5-year-old mare Kimari, a daughter of Munnings , was more than ready to take on the talented Bella Sofia.
Ward was spot on with his assessment. Kimari, owned by Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor proved her boss right with a half-length win over Frank's Rockette.
Bella Sofia, now a winner of six from nine career starts, was 5 3/4 lengths behind Frank's Rockette.
Early pacesetter Amadevil, an Ohio-bred, faded and was eased in the final eighth of a mile. She was fourth in the field of four. She was vanned off after reportedly having bled.
"I was pretty confident going into today," Ward said in the winner's circle. "Not that I am not confident going into all my races. It just worked out great, and it's always great to stand in the winner's circle for a graded race at Saratoga. There's nothing like it."
Off since May 7—Kentucky Derby Day—when she finished fifth in the Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1), Kimari and jockey Joel Rosario took aim on Frank's Rockette in the stretch and powered past to win for the eighth time in 15 career starts.
This was her sixth win on dirt.
"She ran good," said Rosario, who was riding Kimari for the sixth time in her last seven starts. "She's a nice horse and always tries. She responded to everything I asked her to do."
Amadevil and jockey Jose Ortiz set the early pace, running the first quarter in :22.72. Bella Sofia kept up the chase while Kimari was never far behind.
When the real running started, Frank's Rockette and Flavien Prat, who stumbled at the start, came through on the inside and took the lead into the stretch but could not hold off Kimari.
Bella Sofia, a daughter of Awesome Patriot, had won on the Saratoga stage last year, taking the Longines Test (G1) by four lengths. She was certainly the disappointment of the Honorable Miss.
Her trainer, Rudy Rodriguez, was at a loss as he walked through the clubhouse out into the Saratoga sunshine.
"She had been training good over here," Rodriguez said. "The track looked a little dull to me, but it is what it is. We just got beat."
"(Bella Sofia) is obviously a really good filly," Ward said. "Today was not her day. It has happened to me with some good ones in the past. I am sure they will get her back on track."
Before the race, Bella Sofia appeared agitated as the field went to the gate, but Rodriguez shrugged that off.
"She is always like that," he said. "That was not a concern."
Kimari went off as the third-betting choice at 3-1 and paid $8.10 on a $2 win ticket. She ran the six furlongs in a time of 1:10.78. For her next start, Ward is more inclined to wait for a race at Keeneland—the Oct. 8 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) being a possibility.
The $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland is the ultimate goal for Kimari, who was bred in Kentucky by China Horse Club.
