December starts with a bang for Carpe Diem

Top-10 First-Crop sire Carpe Diem got a pair of maiden special weight winners on Dec. 1 to give the WinStar stallion 14 individuals with a month left in the year.

The striking chestnut filly Parkour dominated a one-mile turf race at Del Mar, taking the race in gate-to-wire fashion despite breaking from the outside post in the field of 12. The LNJ Foxwoods homebred, who was making her first start on the grass, won by 2 1/2-lengths. 

Parkour is out of the Speightstown mare Gemswick Park, who won the Old Hat S. (G3) and placed in the Grade 1 Frizette S.

The same day at Fair Grounds first-time starter Carpe Casanova won her debut on the main track, taking the 1 mile and 70 yard affair by three lengths, also leading the entire trip.

Carpe Casanova is owned by Right Time Racing III, LLC and was bred in Kentucky by Lance & Todd Frederick and Phoenix Farm.