Kendrick Carmouche | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘I Just Want To Stay In The Fight’: Carmouche Reflects On Remarkable 2020 Season

Just one live race day, the New Year's Eve card at Aqueduct Racetrack, remains in 2020 to complete a remarkable year of racing action on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit. The NYRA Press Office checked in with a selection of New York-based racing personalities to get their reflections on the memorable campaign.

Kendrick Carmouche, a native of Vinton, La., began riding in his home state at the age of 16 before switching over to the Mid-Atlantic circuit. He found immediate success there, winning seven riding titles at Parx Racing and earning a spot in the Philadelphia racetrack's Hall of Fame. Since moving his tack to New York in the winter of 2015, Carmouche has piloted more than 30 stakes-winners and this year won his first Grade 1 aboard True Timber in the Cigar Mile. Additionally, he secured his first riding title in the Empire State when leading all other jockeys during the fall meet at the Big A.

Q: What was your favorite moment this year?

Carmouche: Winning on True Timber was not only the biggest moment of the year, but the biggest moment of my career. Winning a title in New York, also, caps off a year of hard work and the pandemic, all in one.

Q: Was there a particular ride that made you most proud?

Carmouche: Battle Station winning the Lucky Coin. That was a good way to end the meet at Saratoga. He's a horse who I really like. He put me in a perfect spot that day. He's a horse that I previously rode, and we just picked up where we left off. I rode him as a 2-year-old and I won the first couple of times on him. I didn't get back on him until he was five, so it's really been a lot of fun.

Q: Who was your favorite horse to ride this year at NYRA?

Carmouche: Tribecca. I've got to give him props. The past few years, he's one of those horses that every time you get on him, you know you have a shot to win. He's just an amazing and cool horse. He rides me, and I ride him. That's the way it works. We're both on the same page, we know each other well and know what the other one wants.

Q: The new track at Saratoga got a lot of buzz over the summer from jockeys and horsemen alike, how did you feel about the new surface?

Carmouche: I think the track was wonderful and the crew did a good job. When they come into the jock's room and ask us about it, we try and give them our honest opinion of what we feel on a racehorse and they try to make sure that the horses and jockeys are both safe.

Q: Talk about the relationship with have with your agent Kevin Bubser and how he's helped you along in your career.

Carmouche: I first met him at Delaware Park. He was a casino dealer and we became best friends. He said he didn't want to be a dealer anymore, so I brought him over to the racehorse world, which he was already introduced to when he was a young kid, and he just fell right into place. Me and my former agent taught him a couple things and left him in Philadelphia. I'm very pleased with the job he's done with my book. He's a very good guy and a very nice guy. I'm happy that we both got our first G1 and first riding title together. You can't ask for anything more.

Q: What is it that keeps you going?

Carmouche: The competition. I love the competition. You know that every time you come here that you have to ride your absolute best to beat these guys and they have to do the same and ride their best to beat me. When I came up here years ago, I was searching for the opportunity to build my riding career and get better and better. That's the whole point of stepping up to the next level. Everyone was suffering during the pandemic. My whole thing was, I wanted to get back to work and do what I always do, win races, try to find a way to win. I love getting better at winning races. I just want to stay in the fight. They got me in the fight right now, and I want to stay in the fight.

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Five Finalists Named For George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award

Santa Anita Park has announced a distinguished group of five finalists for the 2021 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, with the winner to be announced in February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. One of the most prestigious awards in American racing, the Woolf Award, which is determined by a vote of jockeys nationwide, can only be won once.

Jockeys Alex Birzer, Jorge Martin Bourdieu, Kendrick Carmouche, Aaron Gryder and Deshawn Parker, veteran riders who have stood the test of time and have earned the respect of their peers and horsemen in various geographic regions, comprise 2021's select group of Woolf finalists.

Presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950, the Woolf Award recognizes those riders whose careers and personal character garner esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing. The trophy is a replica of the life-sized statue of legendary Hall of Fame jockey George Woolf, which adorns Santa Anita's Paddock Gardens area.

Regarded as one of the greatest big-money riders of his era, Woolf was a household word by virtue of winning the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap aboard Azucar on Feb. 23, 1935, and for his association with the immortal Seabiscuit, whom he rode to victory over Triple Crown Champion War Admiral in a mile and three sixteenths match race at Pimlico Race Course on Nov. 1, 1938.

Affectionately known as “The Iceman,” Woolf was revered by his fellow riders, members of the media and millions of racing fans across America as a fierce competitor and consummate professional.

One of America's hardest working jockeys and a mainstay in the Midwest for nearly three decades, Kansas native Alex Birzer, the son of a trainer, was born Oct. 2, 1973. A five-time leading rider at Prairie Meadows in Des Moines, Iowa, and a four-time leader at The Woodlands near Kansas City, Birzer rides year 'round at three tracks, primarily, Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, Prairie Meadows and at Remington Park in Oklahoma. Birzer, who has 3,396 career wins through Nov. 29, is married with three children and resides in Council Grove, Kan.

The key to his success? Birzer, whose younger brother Gary was rendered permanently disabled due to a racing accident in 2004, has this bit of simple advice: “When you get up in the morning, make sure you're proud of the guy in the mirror.”

A native of Cordoba, Argentina, Jorge Martin Bourdieu, 46, has ridden primarily in the Southwest, where he's established a reputation as a consistent professional who has overcome injuries while riding both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. A regular at Los Alamitos Racecourse 20 years ago, he was leading rider at the Orange County, Calif., track from 1999 to 2001, with Thoroughbreds and Arabians. A winner of 90 Thoroughbred races at Los Alamitos, he has returned on occasion to ride in Quarter Horse stakes, including victories in the Grade 1 AQHA Cox Ranch Distance Challenge at 870 yards in 2018 and the $100,000 Wild West Futurity in 2019. Bourdieu currently plies his trade primarily at Turf Paradise, Sunland Park, Zia Park and at Arapahoe Park.

One of many talented Cajun jockeys, Kendrick Carmouche was born Jan. 18, 1984, in Lake Charles, La., and began riding at recognized tracks at age 16. The son of jockey Sylvester Carmouche, Kendrick became a dominant force at Parx Racing near Philadelphia in 2008 and led the rider standings there four consecutive years through 2011. Currently a year-round fixture in New York, Carmouche, the leading rider at the recently concluded Aqueduct Fall Meeting, is regarded as an outstanding “gate rider” and is known for his unfailingly positive attitude and consistent ability to produce with any kind of horse at any price. In what he described as “the biggest win of my career,” Carmouche took the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct with True Timber on Dec. 5, his first-ever Grade 1 victory. Married with two children, Carmouche is in the prime of a career that has seen him boot home more than 3,300 winners.

A native of nearby West Covina, Calif., Aaron Gryder aspired to be a jockey from a very young age, courtesy of numerous trips to Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar with his grandparents. Born June 5, 1970, Gryder broke his maiden on Jan. 18, 1987, south of the border at Caliente and went on to become leading rider at Hollywood Park's Fall Meeting as an apprentice—in a Jockeys' Room that included the likes of Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Eddie Delahoussaye, Chris McCarron, Gary Stevens and Patrick Valenzuela. One of the most articulate figures in racing, Gryder has worked in commercial film and television and has often advocated on behalf of the Thoroughbred industry.

Well-traveled, Gryder won the world's richest race, the $6-million Dubai World Cup, on March 28, 2009, aboard Well Armed and in addition to Hollywood Park, has notched leading rider titles at Churchill Downs, Arlington Park, Aqueduct and Golden Gate Fields. With more than 3,900 career wins, Gryder announced his retirement this past month at Del Mar, but has subsequently agreed to ride in Saudi Arabia and also in Dubai, where his son is stationed with the United States Marine Corps.

At five feet, 10 inches, DeShawn Parker certainly isn't your prototypical jockey. In a world comprised of much smaller athletes, Parker's height belies an incredible level of talent that has enabled him to eclipse the 5,000 career win mark and to lead all North American jockeys, twice. America's leading rider with 377 wins in 2010, Parker, who at the time was riding full time at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia, came back to lead again in 2011 with 400 wins. The son of a longtime racing official, Parker was born on Jan. 8, 1971, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The first African-American jockey to lead the nation in wins since 1895, Parker has 5,822 career victories through Nov. 29, and in the opinion of many could be approaching Hall of Fame consideration. A perennial leading rider at Mountaineer for more than 20 years, Parker has also enjoyed considerable success at Indiana Grand and at Sam Houston Race Park, where he was their leading rider in 2015. Married with two children, Parker lives in East Liverpool, Ohio.

The 2020 Woof Award was won by Luis M. Quinones and the 2021 winner will become the 72nd jockey, dating back to Gordon Glisson in 1950, to be so honored.

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Lucky Move Avenges 2019 Loss To Mrs. Orb In Bay Ridge

Ten Strike Racing's Lucky Move overtook Mrs. Orb in deep stretch, rallying from last to outkick the even-money favorite by a half-length in Sunday's $100,000 Bay Ridge for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Lucky Move, the winner of the Empire Distaff Handicap on October 24 at Belmont Park going 1 1/16 miles, handled the stretch out to 1 1/8 miles for the seventh running of the Bay Ridge, notching her second consecutive victory. The result was the reversal of last year's 1-2 finish in the Bay Ridge, when Mrs. Orb bested Lucky Move by a nose.

The Juan Carlos Guerrero trainee broke sharp from the inside post under Kendrick Carmouche but stayed off pacesetter Singular Sensation's early speed as she led the compact four-horse field through an opening quarter-mile and the half on the fast main track.

Out of the turn, Singular Sensation kept the lead under Manny Franco near the rail, with Mrs. Orb giving close pursuit before gaining temporary command from the outside. But Carmouche, who urged Lucky Move up from the rear of the field, continued to press his charge as she thundered home in the stretch, getting the edge in the final jumps to hit the wire in 1:56.54.

“It was a different result this year. I had that nose in mind from last year when I lost this race,” Carmouche said. “I knew it was going to be slow up front. I just had to sit, wait and bide my time. My horse ran very well. Juan Carlos Guerrero had this horse ready to run.”

Off as the 6-5 second choice, Lucky Move returned $4.40 on a $2 win bet. The veteran Lookin At Lucky mare, bred by Maltese Cross Stables and Stonegate Stables, capped her 6-year-old campaign by improving her career earnings to $429,759.

“You don't worry about [the pace]. You just got to sit and wait as long as you can to make them run and let them run home the last eighth of a mile,” Carmouche said. “She had me in a good spot the whole way around. No excuses today. I just had to get the job done.”

Mrs. Orb, ridden by Dylan Davis, finished second for the fifth consecutive race, besting Singular Sensation by 1 ½ lengths. Firenze Freedom completed the order of finish.

Owned by Ruggeri Stable, Richard Coburn, Script R Farm and trainer Michael Miceli, Mrs. Orb added another runner-up effort to her ledger, joining her efforts this year in the Critical Eye, Union Avenue, Empire Distaff Handicap and the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm in her previous start on November 7 at Aqueduct.

“She was nice and relaxed,” Davis said. “She always tries hard. It's just a timing thing with her. She locked eyes with the five [Singular Sensation] and just barely got by. She's a steady grinder. Once she gets there, she kind of steadies up a bit.”

Sky Kitten and Kilkea were scratched.

Live racing resumes on Thursday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

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After Emotional Milestone Weekend, Kendrick Carmouche Voted Jockey Of The Week

Kendrick Carmouche marked two professional milestones the week of November 30 through December 6. He won his first Grade I race with True Timber in the Cigar Mile on Saturday and then ended the week by earning his first NYRA Jockey title at the Aqueduct Fall Meet. The achievements earned Carmouche the title of Jockey of the Week. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

A field of six went to the post for the Cigar Mile. Under Carmouche, True Timber broke sharp from post 5 and tracked in third position behind the leader, Mr. Buff. Heading into the stretch, Carmouche set True Timber down and easily held off late bids from Snapper Sinclair and post time favorite Performer to hit the wire by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:36.49.

“I had perfect position leaving the gate and all the way around there,” said Carmouche. “Right before we got to the quarter pole, I pulled the trigger and I knew they were going to have to run me down from here.”

“It's my first Grade I. I owe it all to my fans, my wife and kids and how much they stuck with me and kept me pushing and fighting in this game,” said an emotional Carmouche. “This means so much to me. This is the biggest win of my career and I hope I have many more blessed ones.”

On Sunday, Carmouche, a mainstay on the NYRA circuit, registered his first-ever riding title for a New York Racing Association meet with 23 victories for the 18-day fall meet at Aqueduct. No stranger to earning riding titles, Carmouche won seven at Parx from 2008-2011 earning him induction into that track's Hall of Fame in 2015.

“I give thanks to everyone who put a good effort into supporting me and pushed me along to win this meet. I'm very appreciative.” Carmouche said. “I seized the opportunity at hand and I am very grateful for all the trainers and owners for letting me show other people that I can win races.”

Carmouche's weekly stats were 28-7-4-5 and $536,576 in purses won to lead all jockeys.

Carmouche out-polled fellow jockeys Sonny Leon who was second in number of wins for the week, Jose Lezcano who tied for number of wins with nine and won a stakes race at Aqueduct, Paco Lopez who tied for number of wins with nine and Luis Saez who won five Claiming Crown stakes at Gulfstream Park.

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