Nimitz Class Adds Another Stakes Win to Impressive Record

Nimitz Class (3c Munnings x Five Diamonds, by Flatter) ended 2022 the same way he started it – with a win after taking home his second stakes victory of the year in the Robert T. Manfuso Stakes.

A six-time winner in 2022, the Tom Coulter homebred sat just under three lengths behind the leader in the 1 1/16 mile dirt race at Laurel to stay within striking distance throughout the run. He started making serious moves around the far turn but had to pick it up a gear as the leaders started to pull away.

Nimitz Class dug deep to get up in time to win by half a length and take his earnings to $234,480. Trained by Bruce Kravets, Nimitz Class has won six of 12 career starts with one other top three finish.

Nimitz Class is out of stakes winner Five Diamonds, who is also the dam of Munnings’ multiple stakes winner Kaylasaurus among her four winners from five to race. Five Diamonds herself is a half-sister to stakes-placed Smart Tori. This is also the family of Brazilian champion Requebra and multiple Grade I winner In Essence among others.

Five Diamonds has a weanling Lookin At Lucky colt named Quittin’ Time as well.

Munnings’ 15 stakes winners in 2022 is second best among all North American stallions with the sire also having 28 stakes performers and six graded stakes winners – that being the seventh most of any North American sire. He stands for $100,000 in 2023.