Winning Ponies

Our first guest will be trainer Elizabeth Lizzie Merryman. After two consecutive stakes triumphs at five furlongs, her homebred Caravel carried her winning form into graded-stakes company, following a torrid pace and gunning down frontrunner Robin Sparkles in mid-stretch to conquer the G3, $200,000 Caress for older fillies and mares contesting 5 1/2 furlongs over Saratoga Race Course's Mellon turf. It was the first graded stakes win for Caravel and her owner/breeder/trainer. Caravel is now co-owned by Elizabeth Merryman in partnership with celebrity chef Bobby Flay who recently purchased 75% of the filly. Following the Caress, Caravel will be transferred to the barn of fellow Fair Hill based trainer Graham Motion, with eyes set on the G1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. Merryman will remain a part owner. We have talked for weeks about her. He's watched her train pretty much every day, Merryman said. He's just been so nice and classy and sweet about her. He was very much layi