Caracortado

Caracortado (foaled May 7, 2007 in California) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. His sire, Cat Dreams, is a son of the influential stallion Storm Cat. His dam, Mons Venus, is by Maria's Mon, the American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse of 1995 who won the Sanford Stakes, the Champagne Stakes, and the Belmont Futurity Stakes. Maria's Mon also sired Kentucky Derby winners Monarchos and Super Saver.

Caracortado is owned by Blahut Racing, LLC & Lo Hi Racing, and is bred and trained by Mike Machowsky.

Racing career

Caracortado (Spanish for “scarface“), is a fan favorite among California horseracing fans for his catchy name and his rags-to-riches ascension from the $40,000 maiden claiming ranks to Grade 1 Stakes competition. A specialist on turf with exceptional speed, he was named as a juvenile by Machowsky for a scar down the middle of the horse's head. Proof that a good horse can come from anywhere, Caracortado's sire, Cat Dreams, previously stood for a mere $1,500 stud fee. The chestnut Californian-bred gelding, went undefeated through his first four starts at age two, capped by a victory in the 2009 California Breeders' Champion Stakes. At three, Caracortado won the 2010 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2), firmly establishing himself as among the better three-year-old colts in North America when he drew off to a strong 1¾ length score over highly regarded sophomores Dave In Dixie, American Lion, and Tiz Chrome. With this win, the grandson of Storm Cat moved his career record to an unblemished five wins in five starts. Caracortado lost his perfect status when third in the San Felipe Stakes(G2) to Sidney's Candy and Interactif. A troubled fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in April, he lacked sufficient graded earnings to fulfill his Kentucky Derby plans, and he then finished a weary seventh in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

Following a six-month freshening after the Preakness, Caracortado returned under new rider Joe Talamo with a good win in his turf debut in a November 11 optional claiming race at Hollywood Park, defeating older rivals in near record time. Entered in the December 26 Malibu Stakes (G1) on dirt at Santa Anita Park, he finished third to track record-setter Twirling Candy and Smiling Tiger. On January 29, 2011, he returned to grass as a newly turned four-year-old in the Sunshine Millions Turf with an emphatic win in fast time, over older graded stakes winners The Usual Q.T., Presious Passion, and Jeranimo, stamping himself as an emerging star in the turf division and as a contender for the 2011 Breeders' Cup Mile. Bet to the 6/5 favorite in a field of ten for the grade one Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap, he finished from far back, running through the stretch to just fail in a photo finish to Fluke in the fastest turf mile of the Santa Anita meeting. It was subsequently decided he would skip an international campaign through the spring and focus on top North American grass races leading up to the November Breeders Cup Mile at Churchill Downs. On July 3, 2011 Caracortado finished second to Courageous Cat in the grade one Shoemaker Mile Stakes at Hollywood Park on turf. On August 27, 2011 he won the grade two Del Mar Mile Handicap on turf.

External Links

• Caracortado's pedigree and racing stats
• Caracortado's stakes replays, stats
• 2011 Breeders' Cup Divisional Point Leaders
• The Jockey Club registry for Caracortado