Elizabeth Merryman knew she had the horse of a lifetime after she bred Caravel and trained her to six victories in her first eight starts. She also knew she was in for the fight of a lifetime after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in early July 2021.

Surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy, would be required to deal with two malignant tumors, one of which carried a high percentage of returning elsewhere. Although Merryman’s life had revolved around her horses, especially Caravel, she realized she needed to devote everything she had to combating a dreaded disease that had stricken many of those in her racing family.

Merryman reached an agonizing decision. She sold a 75% interest in the horse of her dreams to celebrity chef Bobby Flay while retaining 25%. The parties agreed that Caravel would be transferred to well-respected trainer Graham Motion, who occupied the barn neighboring Merryman’s at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md.

Caravel's breeder, Elizabeth Merryman. (BloodHorse/Anne M. Eberhardt)

“I didn’t think I could do justice training her,” Merryman said. “I didn’t have confidence in myself to pull it off with everything else that was going on.”

It was all so difficult.

“It was a really tough decision for her because a horse like that is what she worked her whole life for, to get one of those,” said Liza Hendriks, Merryman’s daughter. “She brought her so much joy racing her.”

Caravel, a gray or roan daughter of Mizzen Mast out of the Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, had been Merryman’s only foal in 2017. She knew she was special almost from her first breath.

“She was very attractive, very correct, athletic,” Merryman recalled. “Very good brain. Smart. She looked like the total package from early on.”

As Caravel grew at Buffalo Run Ranch in Coatesville, Pa., she displayed a spunky attitude to match her good looks. Even in the company of older horses, she wanted to be the boss.

Merryman, the daughter of noted breeders Katharine and John Merryman, gave the youngster ample time to develop and she was unraced at 2. The filly debuted on June 24, 2020, at Penn National, going five furlongs on turf. It was nothing anyone could have expected.

“She was just cantering along, so far behind the field, so clueless,” Merryman recalled. She thought to herself, “How could I be so wrong about a horse?”

Well, not so wrong.

Elizabeth Merryman, center in blue dress, after Caress Stakes win. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

The light went on, Caravel found her stride and she was gone, winning by 1 ¼ lengths. She motored so fast in her second start, an allowance for Pennsylvania-breds at Penn National, that she had trouble cornering the turn. She dominated by 5 ¼ lengths. She passed her first stakes test, the Lady Erie at Presque Isle Downs, with ease in her third lifetime start.

The phone began ringing. What would it take to buy her?

The cancer diagnosis changed the answer to that question. Merryman enjoyed one last hurrah as Caravel presented her with her first graded stakes victory as a trainer in the Caress Stakes on July 24, 2021 at Saratoga Race Course. Tears flowed. She thought about the filly that had become such an important family member and pondered the grim struggle with cancer that awaited.

Merryman’s ordeal, involving rigorous and debilitating treatment, lasted approximately one year. The great news is that doctors no longer detect any cancer cells and, after reconstructive surgery, the 59-year-old was cleared to return to training full-time this past August.

Caravel did not do well for Motion. She was winless in three starts for him and finished last of 12 in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. But she rebounded strongly after she was purchased by Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel, and Madaket Stables for $500,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s 2021 November Sale and transferred to trainer Brad Cox. Merryman had unsuccessfully attempted to buy her with a partner.

As 6-year-old Caravel prepares to defend her title in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Saturday at Santa Anita Park in what is expected to be her career finale, Merryman cannot praise Cox highly enough for the way he reinvigorated the mare.

Elizabeth Merryman, center, with daughter Liza at left. (Eclipse Sportswire)

“Brad is an amazing trainer because I don’t think he makes horses fit into a system,” Merryman said. “He treats them as complete individuals and is relentless in figuring out what makes that horse click. That’s what I’ve seen with Caravel.”

Under Cox’s intense watch, the gritty Pennsylvania-bred has defeated males three times, most notably in a front-running effort in last year’s Turf Sprint at Keeneland at 42.89-1 odds. If there was ever a medicinal triumph, that was it.

“We were all so excited and emotional and crying and running to the winner’s circle,” said Hendriks.

Merryman savored that moment. Because she is ever mindful that cancer can return, she is intent on treasuring every moment. She will be joined by family members in watching Caravel close a career that has brought 15 victories in 25 starts and earnings of more than $1.9 million.

Whatever the outcome, Merryman appreciates what a magical ride it has been.