Sarawak Rim Resets Her Campaign This Thursday at Gulfstream Park

Following a start in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar, and with a recent trainer change, the daughter of Remote returns in an allowance optional claiming race seeking to regain her confidence

Sarawak Rim During One of Her Victories at Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida.— The road to redemption often requires patience, and for Sarawak Rim, the wait has come to an end. This Thursday, under the Florida sun, the daughter of Remote will return to official competition in an $87,000 allowance optional claiming race over the dirt mile at Gulfstream Park. This marks not only her 5-year-old debut but the start of a new chapter in her campaign following the retirement of her original mentor in the North.

For Argentine fans, the name Sarawak Rim evokes immediate glory. She was the mare capable of pulling off the upset in the Gran Premio Criadores (G1) at Palermo, a victory that secured her place in national racing history and earned her a direct "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

Her run at Del Mar in November 2025 left a bittersweet taste. She finished seventh, far from the contention, in a race where she suffered trouble at the start and never settled on a track that notably favored front-runners. That afternoon was special for another reason: it was the last time Ignacio Correas (h.) saddled a Thoroughbred before retiring and returning to his home country. After passing through the Keeneland November sale ring, where she did not meet her reserve price, the bay mare joined the expert barn of Rusty Arnold.

"Ignacio was retiring and, fortunately, he left her with me," commented Arnold, who worked calmly on the mare's adaptation to her new environment. "She looked great when she arrived, and we were in no hurry to run her. She probably wants a bit more than a mile, but she has worked very well," added the trainer, who sees this 1,600-meter commitment as the ideal springboard toward major goals in the 2026 season.

The challenge, while lower than in the Distaff, will be no easy task. Sarawak Rim—quoted at 5/1 in the morning-line—will face rivals of proven stakes quality. Among them stands out Just Basking (Arrogate), who finished second to G1 winner Power Squeeze (Union Rags) in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, and Anna’s Promise (Promised Fullfilled), runner-up in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and a Kentucky Oaks (G1) participant last year.

However, the biggest threat could come from the surging Senza Parole (Gun Runner). The Chad Brown trainee arrives from New York following a gutsy win at Aqueduct and possesses natural speed that will test the Argentine’s stamina. The field is completed by Luvumorgan (Union Rags), Fede (Adios Charlie), and Here’s the Kicker (Liam's Map), forming a high-caliber field for a weekday.

Although 1,600 meters may seem a bit short for a mare who shone at 2,000 meters on the dirt in Buenos Aires, class often prevails at these levels. The bay mare has shown a freshness in her morning works that invites hope. For Sarawak Rim, this Thursday's race is not just another competition; it is the opportunity to prove that her coronation at Hipódromo de Palermo was no fluke and that the American dream still has many pages to be written.

Racing is, above all, a matter of cycles. With the change of trainer and the maturity that comes with time, the Argentine representative seeks to return to the winning path on a track where the dirt is usually demanding.