Carotari bringing ‘a game’ into Saturday’s Silks Run

William Branch’s Carotari has earned the undying respect of his trainer, Brian Lynch, during their 30-race association that has produced 10 wins, including five stakes victories, seven runner-up finishes and three third-place finishes.

The 7-year-old gelding, who has steadily built a bankroll over $700,000 by showing up in virtually every start, is scheduled to seek his first victory of the season in Saturday’s $100,000 Silks Run, a five-furlong turf sprint for older horses that will be co-featured on a 12-race program with the $100,000 Hutcheson, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds on the main track.

“He’s been a lovely sound horse and he still loves what he does. He still has that want-to. Until he shows he doesn’t want to play ball anymore, we’ll keep doing our best to get him ready,” Lynch said. “I’d love to get him over a million dollars, that would be my goal. He’s been such a model of consistency.”

The son of Artie Schiller will make his second start of 2023 while coming off a solid second-place finish in the Feb. 11 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3), finishing just a half-length behind Yes I Am Free.

“He comes into in good shape. I think he’s a little fitter, a little tighter than he was the last time, so I’m looking forward to running him,” Lynch said, “I think he’s going to bring one of his ‘A’ game races this week.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride Carotari for the first time Saturday.