Kimari Much The Best at Gulfstream

It was a winning return for Kimari (5m Munnings x Cozze Up Lady, by Cozzene) on Thursday when she romped home in an Allowance Option Claiming Race in her 5-year-old debut.

Sold to the Coolmore partners, Westerberg, and Jonathan Poulin for $2.7 million at last year’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale, the Grade I winner tracked the leaders in the 6 ½ furlong dirt race while looking much the best throughout. Joel Rosario let the heavy favorite coast to the lead around the turn and the race was all but over from there.

Kimari was never let out of second gear as she galloped home 5 ¼ lengths best with the rest of the field nine lengths behind the winner.

Trained by Wesley Ward throughout her career, the Munnings daughter now has seven wins in 12 starts with three other top three finishes for $801,777 in earnings. Kimari has won five stakes in her career with placings in both the Group I Commonwealth Cup and Group II Queen Mary Stakes as well.

The mare was bred by China Horse Club and sold as a yearling for $152,000 from the Bluewater Sales draft at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearlings Sale.

Kimari is out of the Grade III winner Cozze Up Lady and hails from the family of Group I winner Giant Killing and multiple Group II winner Hulacara. Cozze Up Lady returned to the Ashford breeding shed last year when visiting Tiz The Law.

Munnings is having another stellar year in 2022 with five stakes winners and seven stakes performers, led by Lookin At Lucky’s graded stakes winning half-sister Shahama, who is currently on the Grade I Kentucky Oaks trail.