Carmelita's Man © Benoit Photo

TIAGO PEREIRA (Carmelita’s Man, winner) – “Yes, this is the first time I ride this horse. I worked him last week and I got off and said ‘I love this horse.’ Dean (trainer Pederson) told me to put him in the race. We got a good spot and he was running well. Then I chirped to him and he really went. We were winners all the way.”

DEAN PEDERSON (Carmelita’s Man, winner) – “The end result is what we were hoping for that’s for sure. I was a little worried around the turn. He was in between horses and it looked like he was backing up a little bit but once he got him outside and in the clear it was good. He’s still got it, I guess. He just very reliant on pace. We got a little help today and he’s still willing to do it.”

FRACTIONS:  :23.20  :47.45  1:11.29  1:35.15  1:41.00

The stakes win was the first at the meet for both the rider and the trainer.

The victory in the California Dreamin’ is the first in the race for rider Pereira, but his 11th overall at Del Mar.

The victory in the California Dreamin’ is the second in the race for trainer Pedersen (he won it with the same horse last year), and his third stakes win overall at Del Mar.

The winning owners are Larry or Ann Jett of Santa Ynez, CA.