Kimari Makes Easy Work of G2 Gallant Bloom

Kimari (5m Munnings x Cozze Up Lady, by Cozzene) became racing’s newest millionaire on Sunday with a win in the Grade II Gallant Bloom Stakes.

Kimari eagerly galloped behind Tale of the Cat’s pacesetting daughter Lady Rocket in the 6 ½ furlong race. Another horse inside of Kimari kept the pressure on but Kimari ignored that foe with her mind firmly on the leader.

Kimari was never asked for her best as she breezed to the lead to finish 1 ¼ lengths in front of Lady Rocket with Cupid’s Sterling Silver in third.

“She’s special,” said jockey Joel Rosario. “She runs hard all the time and she ran a good race again today. She was very comfortable. She was loving what she was doing out there. For a second, I was worried the horse in front of me would keep moving forward but my filly kept gaining and I had a lot of confidence.”

Kimari’s ninth career victory took her earnings to $1,118,827 for trainer Wesley Ward. A $2.7 million Fasig-Tipton November purchase last year, Kimari races for Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, and the Coolmore partners.

The mare’s next start is the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 5.

She was bred by China Horse Club out of the Grade III winning mare Cozze Up Lady, who has two winners from three to race. Kimari’s family also includes Grade I winner Giant Killing, Grade II winner Hualcara, and multiple graded stakes winner Apolda.

Kimari is the second Grade II winner in 24 hours for Munnings after Scaramouche won the Gallant Bob on Saturday to become his newest graded stakes winner.