Carrasco Returns a Winner on Opening Day at Pimlico
Carrasco Returns a Winner on Opening Day at Pimlico
Veteran Jockey Rides for First Time Since April 2 Injury
Rainbow 6 Solved for $2,454 Payout
BALTIMORE – Eclipse Award-winning rider Victor Carrasco, riding for the first time since an April 2 spill at Laurel Park, won with his first mount back as racing returned to historic Pimlico Race Course Thursday.
The 12-day Preakness Meet at Pimlico runs Thursday to Sunday through Memorial Day, May 29, highlighted by the 142nd running of the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1), the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, Saturday May 20 and the 93rd running of the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) Friday May 19.
Carrasco, 24, was persistent on Hillwood Stable’s Cherished Prize as the 4-year-old Maryland-bred mare, trained by Rodney Jenkins, wore down front-running Beautiful Nite Sky in the stretch to win the $22,000 maiden claiming event that was rained off the turf to a sloppy main track.
“It’s always a beautiful day when you win. I have to thank Mr. Jenkins and Mrs. [Ellen] Charles for believing in me,” Carrasco said. “It’s been [39] long days. I’m glad I made it back. No better way to start off than winning.”
The 10th Maryland-based rider to win the Eclipse as leading apprentice in 2013 and a multiple meet champion at Laurel and Pimlico, Carrasco suffered a fractured shoulder blade when his mount, Stalk, broke down shortly after taking the lead at the top of the stretch in an April 2 claiming race. Unclenedwhodrank, trailing close behind, was unable to avoid the fallen horse and rider and also fell.
Carrasco did not require surgery and was in a sling until receiving medical clearance to get back aboard horses, which he did May 8. Carrasco had two seconds and a third in his other three mounts Thursday.
“I was expecting to be out from six to eight weeks, but I was taking care of myself and not doing anything where I could hurt myself. I just rested and rested and took my time,” he said. “I was waiting to see the doctor because I was feeling so good. I was sure I was able to go back to work but I just needed to get X-rays to make sure I was fine, and here I am.”
Four horses were live to take down the 20-cent Rainbow 6 heading into Thursday’s ninth race finale, won by Gray Veil ($7). The correct 3-6-3-6-5-5 sequence was worth $2,454.36.
Notes: Jockey Feargal Lynch rode back-to-back winners Thursday aboard Good Reasoning ($21) in the seventh race and Hickory Hill ($6.80) in the eighth. … Jockey Trevor McCarthy remains three wins shy of 1,000 for his career. He is named in five of nine races Friday.
