Three-Win Day for Maryland’s Leading Rider

Rainbow 6, Super Hi-5 Carryovers for Return of Live Racing Thursday

 

BALTIMORE – Jockey Trevor McCarthy wasted no time adding to his milestone 1,000th career victory by capturing the first race at historic Pimlico Race Course Sunday on opening weekend of the 12-day Preakness Meet at Pimlico.

 

Maryland’s leading rider in 2014 and 2016 was in behind horses on the turn aboard 2-5 favorite Expect a Kitten ($2.80) until squeezing through a narrow seam in mid-stretch and driving to the wire for a half-length victory in the $27,000 maiden claimer on turf.

 

It was the first mount for McCarthy since guiding Rainbow Heir to a repeat victory in the Wolf Hill Stakes Saturday at Monmouth Park for win No. 1,000. The Wilmington, Del. native earned his 998th career victory on Greek God Friday at Pimlico.

 

“This was awesome. It was a little bit of a bummer that I didn’t get it here but it was great,” McCarthy said. “I’ve had a lot of success at Monnouth and to get it in a stakes race was really cool. I’m just in shock. I don’t have much to say. It’s a great feeling.”

 

McCarthy, who turns 23 on Tuesday, added win No. 1,002 with Y’er Wan ($5.60) in the fourth and No. 1,003 aboard Parade of Nations ($5.80) in the eighth for a riding triple.

 

“It’s super. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been riding some good horses for great trainers. My agent Scotty [Silver] has done a great job and I’ve just had a lot of help along the way which makes it nice,” McCarthy said. “When you have help from great people and people that have a lot of experience you learn a lot. There’s just been so many supporters. The list goes on and on. I could stand here all day and name people. I just want to thank everybody for all their help. So many people have been so good to me.”

 

There will be a jackpot carryover of $3,240.76 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 when live racing returns to Pimlico Thursday. Tickets with five of six winners Sunday were worth $187.18.

 

Thursday’s nine-race program begins at 1:10 p.m. and includes a $1 Super Hi-5 carryover of $3,053.39 in the opener. The card serves as a prelude to Preakness weekend featuring the 93rd running of the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) Friday and the 142nd running of the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) Saturday. 

 

Notes: Parade of Nations was one of three wins Sunday for owner James C. Wolf, along with Balharbour Miss ($3.40) in the second and Mongolian King ($11.60) in the eighth. Parade of Nations and Mongolian King are both trained by Kieron Magee.