Kendrick Carmouche | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Hard Work Is Paying Off’ For Kendrick Carmouche At Aqueduct

The first weekend of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet saw veteran rider Kendrick Carmouche surge to the top of the standings, posting nine wins, a pair of runner-up efforts and a third-place finish in 27 mounts, registering five more wins than the next-closest rider in Pablo Morales with one-sixth of the 18-day meet concluded.

The long-time New York stalwart made a name for himself on the Parx circuit, winning seven riding titles there from 2008-11 and earning induction into its Hall of Fame in 2015. But racing in the highly competitive NYRA circuit has still seen the 36-year-old earn trips to the winner's circle, including aboard Malathaat in the $100,000 Tempted on Friday. That marked a memorable day that also saw him pilot Microsecond to victory in the day's seventh race, earning trainer Todd Pletcher his 5,000th career win.

“Coming from Parx, I could win three, four, sometimes five races a day there, and to come to New York, I've been here for five years and I think the work I've been putting in, you can see it now,” Carmouche said. “I've had a lot of support from my family and the fans and the owners and trainers, they've been great and it means a lot.

“No matter who I'm on, I'm trying to put the horse in the best position for my horse to win,” he added. “I'm putting my horse in the best position. Once I get that, I'm going to try and win it from there. If I don't get the job done, that's the way it is. But it's tough riding with the best riders in New York. I feel like I'm doing good for my situation, I just need to work a little bit harder and do things a little bit different. The hard work is paying off.”

Entering Thursday, Carmouche had posted a winning percentage of 33.33 percent and has finished in the money in more than 44 percent of his starts this meet, compiling earnings of $432,503.

For his career, which started with his first victory in 2000, Carmouche has amassed 3,300 wins in more than 20,000 starts, notching earnings in excess of $112 million and six career Grade 2 wins, including this year aboard Fire At Will in the Pilgrim.

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Fire At Will Upsets Public Sector In Belmont’s Pilgrim

Kendrick Carmouche put Three Diamonds Farm's Fire At Will on the lead shortly after the start of Saturday's Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes, and the son of Declaration of War never looked back, scoring an easy two-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile turf contest for 2-year-olds.

Public Sector, the 4-5 favorite for trainer Chad Brown, closed under Javier Castellano to be second but was never a threat to the winner. Step Dancer finished third and Shawdyshawdyshawdy finished fourth in the field of six.

Trained by Mike Maker, Fire At Will paid $29 for the win after covering the distance on firm turf in 1:43.46.

Sixth in his only previous turf race, a 1 1/16-mile maiden event at Saratoga, Fire At Will was the only stakes winner in the field, having won the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 2 — a race that was taken off the grass and run at seven furlongs on a sloppy main track.

Following that victory, Maker shipped him to Kentucky where Fire At will trained up to the Pilgrim at the Churchill Downs trackside training center.

In the Pilgrim, Fire At Will posted fractions of :25.58, :50.35, 1:15.09 and 1:37.67 en route to his final time. He opened a commanding 3 1/2-length lead at the furlong pole and coasted home for the victory.

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Diamond King Putting His Versatility To The Test In True North

Cash is King and LC Racing's Diamond King will turn back in distance for Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 True North, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for 4-years-old and up at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trained by John Servis, the 5-year-old Quality Road bay won the one-mile Stymie in March at Aqueduct Racetrack but was off-the-board last out in the one-mile Blame on May 23 at Churchill Downs.

Diamond King last breezed on June 9 at Parx when he posted a swift half-mile in 47.44 seconds. He will again have the services of regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche when he exits the inside post in Saturday's test, which also features Grade 1-winners Promises Fulfilled and Firenze Fire.

Servis said the cut back in distance won't be a problem for the versatile Diamond King, who has won at distances ranging from 5 1/2-furlongs to 1 1/8-miles.

“It's not that big a turnback, he's going from a mile to six and a half,” said Servis. “I'd like it a lot better if we didn't have the one hole.”

Servis said he expects Diamond King to be forwardly placed

“Being in the one hole, it doesn't give you a whole lot of choices. We'll see how it plays out,” said Servis.

Last weekend, Servis saddled multiple graded-stakes winner Mischevious Alex to a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens, captured by the free-wheeling No Parole.

Servis said Mischevious Alex, who captured the Grade 3 Swale in February at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Gotham in March at the Big A, has come out of the even effort in good order and he has not yet finalized plans for a possible next start.

“I was a little disappointed with the way he ran. I'm just putting a line through it,” said Servis. “He came out of the race super and we're considering a number of options for his next start.”

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Gotham Winner Mischevious Alex To Use Woody Stephens As Springboard To Haskell

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex, who captured the Grade 3 Gotham last out on March 7 at the Big A for trainer John Servis, worked a half-mile in 51.42 Tuesday morning at Parx Racing in preparation for Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“He two-minute licked and then we let him pick it up the last half. I wanted to let him stretch his legs a little bit,” said Servis.

Servis said he had considered Saturday's Belmont Stakes for Mischevious Alex, but wanted to bring the Into Mischief colt back at a shorter distance. Servis said the Woody Stephens, at seven furlongs for sophomores, would set Mischevious Alex up for a two-turn try in the Grade 1 Haskell on July 18 at Monmouth Park.

“I think this race sets him up for the other races,” said Servis. “The Belmont is a one-turn mile and an eighth and the big question for my horse is two turns, so we'll save that for next time.

“If he runs really good on Saturday, we'll probably try the Haskell.”

Mischevious Alex is undefeated since the addition of blinkers for a score in the Parx Juvenile in November. He followed that effort with a prominent score in the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream Park in February ahead of his Grade 3 Gotham coup.

Kendrick Carmouche, aboard for the Gotham win, retains the mount.

The probable field for the Woody Stephens presented by Claiborne Farm includes Echo Town (Steve Asmussen), Fore Left (Doug O'Neill), Meru (Jorge Duarte, Jr.), No Parole (Tom Amoss), and Shoplifted (Asmussen).

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