First Stakes Win for Star Munnings Filly
A member of the powerful Wesley Ward stable, Kimari (2f Munnings x Cozze Up Lady, by Cozzene) posted her first Black Type success when cruising home to win the $100,000 Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga on Wednesday.
A TDN Rising Star when winning on debut at Keeneland earlier this year by 15 lengths, Kimari was sent to Royal Ascot where she was narrowly beaten into second in the Group II Queen Mary Stakes.
Kimari travelled up on the pace and forged clear of her rivals to win the five and a half furlong turf sprint by four lengths.
"She had been training real well,” said Wesley Ward assistant Ollie Sangster. “She showed us what we always had seen. We were a bit disappointed to get beat at Ascot, but they had a lot of rain, which wasn't to her liking, but she still ran a big race. She showed us what she was made of today."
A $152,000 Fasig Tipton Kentucky July Yearling Sale purchase, Kimari has won two of three starts and is the first winner for Grade III winner Cozze Up Lady.
Kimari is the 31st stakes-winner for Munnings.