Kimari Makes a Splash in Spring Fever Stakes

Making her first start of the year, Kimari (4f Munnings x Cozze Up Lady, by Cozzene) romped in the Spring Fever Stakes to take her record to five wins from nine starts on Saturday.

Unbothered by the mud at Oaklawn Park, Kimari raced widest of the field under Joel Rosario in fourth early in the 5½ furlong race. The race favorite started to circle the field in the turn and the race was over from there. Rosario had his easiest ride of the day as Kimari galloped home to win by 4¼ lengths under little pressure from her jockey.

It was the fourth stakes victory for the Ten Broeck Farm-owned filly, who has also finished second in the Group I Commonwealth Cup and Group II Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot the last two years under the tutelage of Wesley Ward.

Bred by China Horse Club International, Kimari is out of Group III winner Cozze Up Lady from the family of Group I winner Giant Killing and Group II winner Hualcara.

Booked full in 2021, Munnings ended 2020 as a leading sire with 21 stakes performers, including 12 stakes winners and six graded stakes winners, led by the Grade II winning trio of Venetian Harbor, Finite, and Bonny South.