After placing to a runaway winner at this level earlier this month, Karakorum Ella again competed in a state-bred non-winners of two/optional $10k claiming 5 ½-furlong sprint at Finger Lakes. Breaking alertly, she vied for the lead outside of Tara Drive, the only horse not competing for a tag, through a quarter in :22.53, while well clear of the rest of the field. Ella shook clear of her rival on the turn, hitting the half in :46.06, to enter the stretch with a widening lead.  She was ridden out down the lane to win by almost four lengths. Ella continues to be a model of consistency in 2008 with her fourth win, with seven in the money finishes from ten races...

Karakorum Sunshine was recently moved to Chris Engelhart's Finger Lakes base and she immediately paid dividends for the stable. Facing $6,250 claiming fillies and mares going 5 ½ furlongs, Sunshine took command soon after the start under John Davila, Jr., and set an opening fraction of :22.39 while holding a one-length advantage over Shopping Girl. She increased her leading turning into the stretch and continued to widen down the stretch to win by just over three lengths while never really being challenged.  This was her fifth career win and increased her earnings over $106k..

Jimmy Jerkens shipped Karakorum Katie to Finger Lakes to contest the 28th running of the six-furlong $50k Niagara Stakes for state-bred three year-old fillies. Down the backstretch, 6/5 choice Katie was well placed outside the early pacesetter, Amalfi Drive, who stepped the first quarter in :22.52. Celtic Kettle then ranged up 5-wide to track Amalfi Drive, as Katie backed off those two leaders, who came to the quarter pole in :45.55. John Davila, Jr., set Katie down for the drive at the top of the lane and she responded with a steady gain on Amalfi Drive while between that filly and 8/5 Afleet Alexandra. From that tough position, she collared Amalfi Drive inside the sixteenth pole and gamely held off the tightening pressure of Afleet Alexandra to win by a nose. This was Katie's third lifetime win and pushed her earnings over $87k.

Chris Englehart entered Karakorum Ella in a 5½ furlong sprint for fillies and mares running for a $6,250 tag at Finger Lakes. Getting a perfect ride for John Davila, Jr., she rated a few lengths off an early speed duel by Legal Call and Mary’s Prayer while in the two-path. After fractions of :22.70 and :46.68, Davila eased Ella out to challenge the leaders, and she responded quickly. She took command just outside the sixteenth pole to win by four lengths, going away. This was Ella’s ninth career win, and third victory this year.

Returning from a 9-month layoff for Linda Rice, Karakorum Elektra faced six other fillies and mares running in an open $35k claimer going 6 furlongs on the Belmont lawn. After breaking alertly, she was taken back by regular rider Alan Garcia to track the speedy Vue de Chat through a quarter in :22.47. Tightening the gap on her rival on the far turn, Elektra then went up to challenge her at the top of the stretch. After a brief tussle, Elektra drew clear to win by a measured length in a quick 1:08.95 while covering her last quarter in :23. This was Elektra's fourth lifetime win in just ten starts and pushes her earnings close to $140k.

In a filly-and-mare sprint for $4k claimers at Finger Lakes, Karakorum Ella immediately took the lead, which she held by a length after a quick :22.94 opening quarter. Ella widened turning into the stretch, increasing her advantage to almost six lengths down the lane and was taken under wraps in the late stages by jockey John Davila, Jr., when the outcome was obvious. This was Ella’s eighth lifetime win, and second victory this year.

Making her second start off a brief freshening and returning to Aqueduct's main track, Returnto Karkaroum was entered back in a $15k-two-lifetime sprint for a $19,000 purse. She broke well under Rudy Rodriguez, protecting her rail position and taking a narrow early lead inside of AJ Kids to hit the quarter in :22.87. Returnto shook clear of that rival on the turn and headed home with a two-length lead after a half in :46.79. She maintained her advantage into deep stretch as Cape Cod Escape ranged up on the outside. But Returnto battled on to hold her safe, and was never in serious danger of being headed. The half-length margin gained Returnto her second career win, and she's hit the board in half her ten starts.

Say Karakorm Sandy broke well from the rail under Rudy Rodriguez in his return to the $15k maiden-claiming level. He held his position along the rail while inside two rivals through a quarter in :22.70. Sandy shook clear on the turn and turned for home with a 3-length lead. The gelding maintained his advantage down the lane and held off a mild rally from Wanna Winna to break his maiden by almost two lengths in 1:12.03. This was the team's 12th win of the year.

Just when you think you think you know a horse, they surprise you. Jeff Odintz entered Karakorum Starlet in the Personal Girl Stakes – a $65k, 7-furlong overnight for state-bred fillies and mares – looking for her 4th straight stakes score versus such rivals. Expected to vie for the lead, Starrie was bumped and steadied at the start to instead trail the field of eight just yards out of the gate. She easily gained a position in midpack about 5 lengths from Waytotheleft after a quarter in :22.94, moving up under her own power. Stewart Elliott sent Starlet between rivals and the duo quickly rallied 3-wide to take aim on the leader. After running her second quarter in just over :23,  she rolled on past the pacesetter, opening up several lengths after turning for home. As Starship Cruiser rallied on the outside, Starlet dug in gamely to hold off that rival by ½ length. Though she’s won from on or near the lead, Starlet showed another dimension with this nearly effortless deep-closing rally. This was her fifth stakes victory, her ninth career win, and her 18th on-the-board finish in 27 starts. Starlet increased her lifetime earnings to over $480k.