After a 22-month dry spell, eight-year-old bay gelding Crimson made a triumphant return by winning his 14th career race on Saturday, January 6, 2024.
Newly licensed trainer Ricardo Mathie deserves credit for Crimson's victory in a three-year-old and upward claiming race ($750,000-$600,000) spanning seven furlongs. Crimson's previous victory took place on March 27, 2022, defeating Supreme Soul by 2¾ lengths at one mile while under the tutelage of Gary Subratie.
However, Crimson failed to impress during the remainder of the 2022 season and his 14 starts in 2023, leaving Subratie increasingly frustrated. On September 10, last year, Subratie lowered Crimson to the $750,000 claiming level where he finished second behind Bern Notice over a mile.
Subsequently, Crimson raced at the $550,000 claiming level and secured second place in a 7½-furlong race on December 17. Mathie claimed the bay gelding on that occasion.
In less than a month, Mathie managed to bring Crimson back to form. Competing at a higher claiming class and guided by jockey Bebeto Harvey, Crimson defeated Storm by half a length in the seven-furlong event with a time of 1:28.1.
