Popular Maryland runners Witty, Slewperstitus, and Barbadian Runner made their returns to the winner’s circle for the first time in ’26 this weekend.
Everything came up roses this past week for owner-breeder-trainer Lizzie Merryman, and it all had to do with broodmare Zeezee Zoomzoom.
Pennsylvania-bed Witty, winner of the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico in May, will make his first Saratoga foray in Friday’s Harvey Pack.
Owner-breeder-trainer Lizzie Merryman had offers on Witty, but they weren’t life-changing. He is, she says, as he heads into the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico.
For minor stakes winners like Witty and Intrepid Daydream, “what’s next” is the lurking question, and one their connections had ready answers for.
Witty, a two-time stakes winner on dirt, will seek his first turf stakes win in Saturday’s Ben’s Cat at PImlico after 3 consecutive seconds in turf stakes.
Caravel, the Pennsylvania-bred mare who pulled a 42-1 shocker in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, earns the nod as the Top Midlantic-bred of 2022.
Witty won impressively, his third straight score, in Laurel Park’s Spectacular Bid Stakes Saturday, continuing a promising family affair.
Pennsylvania-bred Caravel won the G3 Caress at Saratoga. in a bittersweet last start for breeder-owner-trainer Lizzie Merryman.
Pennsylvania-bred Caravel passed her latest test, in the Goldwood Stakes at Monmouth Park, with ease Friday and may have bigger game up next.