“That was a magic carpet ride,” the spectator said. Morales nodded in assent.

Emmanuel, whose scheduled 2022 debut here on Jan. 7 was pushed back after he spiked a temperature, made the wait worthwhile today with a highly professional 4 ½-length victory from Glider in the sixth race, the mile-and-40-yard Cody's Original Roadhouse Race of the Week.

Already considered a Kentucky Derby prospect by a number of experts, the Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-old colt broke alertly under Morales and led the six-horse field throughout. Trainer Mark Casse's colt Glider challenged at the 1/8-mile pole under Antonio Gallardo, but Emmanuel, as it turned out, was just getting started, as he finished in 1:40.24, impressive time on the fast but slightly tiring dirt surface.

Pletcher's other horse in the race, In the Union, finished third.

“I'm very pleased with the way he handled the two turns,” Pletcher said via text message. “We will keep all options open for his next start.”

Pletcher added that the Feb. 12 Sam F. Davis Stakes would be too soon to bring him back, but Tampa Bay Downs Racing Office officials will be working overtime to land him for the Grade 2, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on March 12.

Morales was more expansive in his comments, having piloted the Ferrari-like colt around the track.

“Just a class horse. I felt like I had so many gears underneath me,” Morales said. “Every time I would just move a hair, he would take off a little bit more and just do it easily. He felt (Glider) coming on the inside down the lane, so I decided to give him a little bit of a hand ride and I could feel him extending more and more.

“He just did it easy – it felt like a workout for him. He acts like an old horse who has run 100 times and he gives you what you ask out of him. I'm thankful I was considered to ride him. It was a pleasure.”

To casual observers, Emmanuel, a son of More Than Ready out of the Hard Spun mare Hard Cloth, seems to be setting out on a similar 3-year-old path as Pletcher's Always Dreaming in 2017. Always Dreaming broke his maiden at Tampa on Jan. 25 at the mile-and-40 distance in his third career start. What came next? Victories in an allowance/optional claiming event and the G1 Xpressbet Florida Derby at Gulfstream, followed by a triumph in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.

Owned by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm, Emmanuel was a $350,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September sale. He was bred in Kentucky by the Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust, out of a half-sister to both multiple Group 1-winner and $4.7 million-earner Hawkbill as well as Grade 1 winner Free Drop Billy.

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“He looks so nice and polite,” said his agent, Paula Bacon, laughing because those are in fact two traits Morales possesses in abundance. “But he's actually a baby-faced sharpshooter in sheep's clothing.”

Bacon's metaphor hasn't been far off the last two Saturdays at Tampa Bay Downs. After riding five winners on Jan. 1, Morales did it again today, starting 4-for-4 before cooling off to go 5-for-8 with a second.

The performance gives Morales 23 victories at the meet, moving him into a tie for first with Antonio Gallardo. It is the third time Morales has won five races on a Tampa Bay Downs card.

“Unreal. That was awesome, what can I say?” said Morales. “I'm just as happy as I can be. This game is definitely weird, and we just have to stay after it every day. Things like this are what help me keep on going, no matter what.”

Bacon, a former jockey, said all the pieces are coming together for the 33-year-old Lima, Peru product to make a run at his first Tampa Bay Downs meet title. Morales has won seven titles at Presque Isle Downs, where he more than doubled the runner-up with 120 winners last season.

“He's been getting good mounts and he's making them count,” Bacon said. “He's riding incredibly well. He has a lot of natural physical ability, he picks things up right away and he is making smart decisions in his races.”

Bacon, who watched today's card at home, marveled at Morales's winning ride in the fifth race, a maiden claiming event at a mile on the turf for 3-year-old fillies. After keeping his mount, trainer Tim Hamm's gray filly Music Amore, in a stalking position early, Morales spotted an opening on the turn for home and steered Music Amore to the promised land, resulting in a length-and-a-half victory from Sign and Seal.

“He made a last-second decision to cut the corner turning for home, and I thought that was a really smart move,” Bacon said. “When he altered course to go inside, I thought that won the race for him.”

Morales's winning streak was halted in the seventh race on the turf, the Lambholm South Race of the Week, when he finished second aboard Pythoness by a half-length to Bleecker Street, a 4-year-old filly ridden by Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr., and trained by Chad Brown.

“Yeah, it took dang Chad Brown to get him,” Bacon said of the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer.

Morales's first victory came in the second race on Daily Briefing, a 4-year-old filly owned by Curragh Stables and trained by John P. Terranova, II. She paid $8.40 to win as the second wagering choice. Morales won the third race on Bear Creek, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Mark Hoffman and trained by Dennis Ward. He paid $10.80 to win.

After sitting out the fourth and winning on 2-1 favorite Music Amore, Morales captured the sixth race on 5-2 favorite Curlin's Thrill, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Sabal Racing Stable and Patrick Rhodes and trained by Darien Rodriguez.

The jockey's fifth victory came in the ninth race, a come-from-behind effort by 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding Cajun Casanova, owned by Monster Racing Stables and trained by Jose H. Delgado. Cajun Casanova paid $5.80 to win as the second betting choice. “That horse just ran huge today,” Morales said. “He has been running against tough horses, but when things go his way he is a monster. He liked to run and he gives it his all.”

Bacon, who has been retired as a jockey since 2002, looks forward to teaming with Morales throughout the season in hopes of challenging for the top spot.

“We still have to work our butts off to get anyplace,” she said. “This is a very deep jockey colony, but I know Pablo is going to keep to the task.”

Morales agrees with Bacon's assessment that he is physically and mentally capable of contending. “I'm in good shape and I'm healthy, and that's the main thing. I'm going to keep on working and wait for the right opportunities, and when I do get them, thank God I'm able to prove myself, because by proving myself to the trainers and owners they'll opt to ride me. Obviously, I can't do anything without their help,” he said.

“I'm extremely thankful to all the connections. I do this for myself, my family and the people who root for me. It can be sort of a roller coaster here, but days like this put me in the fight, and hopefully I'll get in a groove of staying more busy.”

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Morales, a 33-year-old from Lima, Peru, got things going Jan. 1 by sweeping the early daily double. He won the first race on Imtakinittothebank, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Volar Corporation and trained by Kathleen O'Connell. Morales captured the second race on Jack Rabbit Quick, another 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding bred and owned by Endsley Oaks Farm and trained by Rafael Schistl.

Morales's next victory came in the fifth, when he kept 8-year-old campaigner Nick the Cardshark to the task through the stretch to defeat long shot Killeen by a head. Jose H. Delgado trains Nick the Cardshark for owner Carole Star Stables. Morales then won the ninth race, the Lambholm South Race of the Week, on 6-year-old gelding Mystic Link for owner Kelly's Racing and trainer Jon Arnett.

By winning the 10^th, the Male Division of the Tampa Turf Test aboard 6-year-old gelding Dazzling Truths, Morales accomplished the rare feat of winning both halves of the early and late daily doubles. Dazzling Truths is owned by Sabal Racing Stables and Patrick Rhodes and trained by Darien Rodriguez, the same connections to win the Tampa Turf Test Fillies and Mares Division with Vip Nation.

Morales got the most out of Dazzling Truths through the stretch, powering him to a 1 ¾-length victory from Bird's Eye View. He paid $6.80 to win after completing the 1-mile distance in 1:37.50.

Morales also had a second and a third from eight mounts. It was his second career five-victory day at Tampa Bay Downs, having gone 5-for-5 on May 4, 2019 (Kentucky Derby Day). Morales rode five winners on back-to-back days on Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 at Presque Isle Downs, where he was the runaway jockey champion.

Approaching the 10^th race, Morales knew he was in a zone and feeling good about his chances. “I'm sure it helped (winning three of the first five races), because everything flows and I was confident and happy. But it was also a factor that I was sitting on good horses and trying to give them good trips,” Morales said.

“I'm hoping this helps me get a little more business, because I think I'm doing pretty well. I don't even ride Wednesday, but I'm happy to at least be able to win some races with what I have. Hopefully, this will open more doors and create more opportunities and I can take advantage. God willing, I'll stay healthy and I'll keep working hard and I think I'll be alright.

“Of all the racetracks I've ridden, you don't take anything for granted here,” he added. “It's definitely not easy, so days like this I feel very lucky to go home to my family happy and to be able to keep working to gain more wins.”

Through Jan. 1, Antonio Gallardo leads the jockey standings with 19 victories, followed by Morales with 18 and Samy Camacho with 17.

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Despite those accomplishments, no one could predict the outcome when Morales left Tampa Bay Downs last December to compete at Aqueduct, known for its high purse money and strong jockey colony. And more than a few observers clucked “I told you so” when Morales started the 2020-2021 winter meeting at “The Big A” with only two victories from 53 mounts.

Behind his youthful, placid face, though, lies a steely determination to succeed. Morales (who had ridden four winners at Aqueduct during a “trial run” in early November of 2020) rebounded from his slow start to finish ninth in the winter meeting standings with 24 winners, including three stakes victories.

“I don't think I killed it, but I probably won enough races that people noticed,” Morales said.

That experience set the table for Morales to dominate this year's Presque Isle Downs meeting in Erie, Pa., where he rode 120 winners, 76 more than the runner-up. The 33-year-old product of Lima, Peru won with 32.2 percent of his mounts, a staggering figure for a 15-week meeting.

Morales has returned home for the 2021-2022 Tampa Bay Downs meeting, eager to see if he can challenge for a title among Oldsmar's deep colony. He has done nothing to disappoint his supporters early, winning nine races from his first 31 mounts to earn the Salt Rock Tavern Jockey of the Month Award.

Morales has also set a new personal single-season earnings mark in 2021 of $4.12-million-plus.

Agent Paula Bacon, for one, looks for the good times to continue.

“I think his confidence is better than ever, and that has gotten him even further,” said Bacon, a retired jockey. “He's confident in his decisions, and he has real good judgment. And I don't think anyone can out-finish him.”

Morales, who in recent years has turned to training in the ring with a boxing instructor to keep strong, believes he is at the peak of his skills. But he isn't taking anything for granted, aware of the dedication needed to stay at his current level.

“I love winning and I love racing. That is the thing I know how to do best,” said Morales, who has 2,268 career victories and has ridden at least 100 winners each year since 2010. “My goal, really, is maintaining – being able to keep working, hopefully keep getting titles and having a better season than before.

“My dream was always to come to the United States and be a jockey, and I get to live it and get the benefits of giving my family (wife Erin and children Sophia and Camilo) a good life.”

In the meantime, his quick start aside, Morales will keep fine-tuning the staying power that made 2021 such an excellent year and is reflected in so many of his come-from-behind victories.

“I can do whatever is needed, but usually I'm a guy who likes to sit on a horse and let them do their own running early instead of riding them off their feet,” he said. “When you have some horse left underneath you, they usually give you a pretty good kick and you're able to finish strong on them.”

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Everett's Song, trained by Dale Bennett and ridden by Pablo Morales, covered the seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.68 to give the trainer, jockey, and ownership group, headed by Diane Olsen, their first wins at Churchill Downs.

The winner's share of $162,525 increased Everett's Song's earnings to $226,525 with a record of 3-1-0 in four starts.

The connections were considering Everett's Song for Saturday's $1 million Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby over 1 1/8 miles at Parx – won by Hot Rod Charlie, with Midnight Bourbon second – but prudently opted for the seven-furlong Harrods Creek instead.

“I owe it all to my owners for wanting to run in this spot,” Bennett said. “I thought the distance would fit him just fine from his previous three races.”

Dreamer's Disease led the field of 10 down the backstretch through swift early fractions of :21.81 and :44.61 with Emerald Forest tracking in second and Everett's Song in the clear well back in seventh. Leaving the turn, Everett's Song cut the margin in half and was one of six horses that appeared to have a chance to win with a furlong to run. The collapse of the fast pace benefitted Everett's Song as he surged to the front inside the final sixteenth of a mile and edged clear late.

“I knew I had a lot of horse underneath me,” Morales said. “I feel like every time I asked him to run he would just take off. Coming around the turn, I couldn't wait to tip him out. Inside the final furlong he kept giving me more and more. I'm just extremely happy with his performance today and so thrilled for Dale and the owners. He's a really nice horse.”

A maiden winner in July and three-length victor of a first-level allowance in August at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., Everett's Song returned $27.60, $11.40, and $7.80 at odds of 12-1. He'smyhoneybadger rallied from second-to-last for second under Martin Garcia and paid $12.60 and $6.60 with last-to-third Ram finishing another length back in third and returning $8.20 to show under Rafael Bejarano.

Bob's Edge, the tepid 3-1 favorite, was fourth and was followed by Emerald Forest, Wolfie's Dynaghost, Flags Up, Dreamer's Disease, Shadow Matter, and St. Louis Derby runner-up Irish Unity.

Everett's Song was bred in Kentucky by Maccabee Farm. He is a gelded son of Liam's Map out of the Indian Charlie mare Pelipa.

“I still think he wants more distance,” Bennett said. “I'm not sure what we'll end up doing next but we're really pleased with his effort today.”

The race honors the neighborhood of Louisville centered near Harrods Creek at the intersection of River Road and Wolf Pen Branch Road. It is roughly bordered by the Ohio River to the west and US 42 to the east. Formerly an unincorporated community, it was designated a neighborhood of Louisville when the city merged with Jefferson County in 2003.

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The 4-year-old daughter of Mizzen Mast turned in another dazzling – and winning – effort, drawing away with ease to score a 4¼-length victory in Friday night's $75,000 Goldwood Stakes at Monmouth Park.

How good was Caravel in winning for the sixth time in eight career starts? When she flashed across the finish line in a slightly eased-up :54.97 for the five furlongs on the grass she missed the 10-year-old track record by just four-tenths of a second.

“I thought it was brilliant,” Merryman said of the performance by the filly she also bred. “She pulled away like it was nothing. It would be really nice to try graded stakes company with her next. So maybe the (Grade 3) Caress at Saratoga (on July 24). We'll see. With these turf races the weather is everything. She is just a dream. She continues to amaze me every time she races.”

Ridden by Pablo Morales, Caravel broke a tad slow but was able to sit comfortably in fourth early on behind dueling leaders Gotta Go Mo and Victory Kingdom, who ripped off the opening quarter in :20.56. Morales moved Caravel off the rail and outside entering the final turn, with the opening half going in :43.44. He then set her down after Miss Auramet, who was poised to take the lead in mid-stretch over the tiring frontrunners.

But Caravel ran right by Miss Auramet, who was coming off a May 30 victory in the Politely Stakes at Monmouth Park.

“She broke well. I just didn't send her,” said Morales. “I was going to be wherever I was going to be with her because I know she is usually forwardly placed on her own.

“After they sent so hard out of there, showing a ton of speed, I just figured I'd wait a little and get around them and get in the clear because I know how well she finishes. She has a great closing kick.”

Caravel returned $5.80 to win in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies. Miss Auramet held for second, a half-length ahead No Mercy Percy.

Bred in Pennsylvania, Caravel's only two lifetime defeats were third-place finishes on a good and a yielding turf course. She won the Very One Stakes at Pimlico on May 14 in her last start, overcoming traffic issues to do so.

Owner, Breeder and Trainer of Caravel, Elizabeth Merryman gives the thumbs up after winning the Goldwood Stakes at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, NJ on Friday June 25, 2021. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

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Owned by Nedlaw Stable and Tobey Morton, Secret Love won her debut in September going six furlongs at Belmont Park. After running second at the same distance on December 20 at the Big A, trainer John Kimmel moved the Not This Time filly up in class in the seventh running of the 6 ½-furlong Franklin Square.

She responded by tracking in second position behind pacesetter Rossa Veloce, who led the five-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.76 seconds and the half in 46.68 on the muddy and sealed main track.

Jockey Pablo Morales kept her forwardly placed out of the turn with plenty in reserve, as she easily overtook a fading Rossa Veloce from the outside at the top of the stretch. Morales, utilizing left-handed encouragement, repelled Laobanonaprayer's late outside bid, hitting the wire in 1:19.86.

“She came to run,” said Morales, who won his first stakes at the Big A since Great Intentions in the 2006 Flip's Pleasure. “They gave me a lot of confidence in her. They told me to have her forwardly placed because they thought she was going to run big. I pretty much followed instructions and came out of there running. Once the other horse made the lead, I just sat second the whole way around there. She gave me a nice kick down the lane and I thought it was good enough to win and she sure did.

“I knew everybody was right there,” he added. “I knew it was a competitive field and I wasn't going to draw off in hand and I would have to keep on riding. She dug in hard and I knew with the run she gave me, she was going to be tough to pass.”

Off at 13-1, Secret Love paid $28 on a $2 win wager. Bred by Sequel Stallions NY and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Secret Love more than doubled her career earnings to $98,000. She was purchased for $270,000 at the 2020 OBS July 2-year-Old Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Kimmel said Secret Love had been working with fellow New York-bred sophomore Frost Me, who won an optimal claimer event on January 8 at Aqueduct.

“The filly broke her maiden very impressively but she lost a shoe and grabbed her quarter and that's why she missed the next 90 days,” Kimmel said about the break between her first and second starts. “We came back and ran her in an 'a other than' off a long layoff and I think she needed that race. She had a couple breezes after that race and was breezing extremely well and outworking Frost Me. Today, they kind of overlooked her and sent her off at a generous 13-1.”

Kimmel said he was impressed with Secret Love's sophomore bow and could run next in the $100,000 Maddie May for state-breds going one mile on February 20 at Aqueduct, along with stablemate Frost Me.

“He [Morales] got her off the inside and he did a very nice job,” Kimmel said. “Laobanonaprayer is a proven horse and a very nice filly. I thought our filly did very well. The pace was very quick up front and she held on. Maybe the track helped her as it might have been tough to make any big closing moves today.”

Laobanonaprayer, who entered with stakes wins in her last two starts, edged Vacay by a neck for second. The Daniel Velazquez trainee is 2-2-1 in five career starts.

“I never had the horse today,” said Laobannaprayer's jockey Kendrick Carmouche. “She missed some training at Parx and you've got to be ready when you come to New York. He [trainer Daniel Velazquez] thought he had the best horse and could still win. The filly still tried.”

Rossa Veloce and A Life That's Good completed the order of finish. Caramocha was scratched.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card headlined by the $100,000 Ladies Handicap for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up going 1 1/8 miles in Race 8. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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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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An X-ray revealed a break, sending the 31-year-old jockey to the sidelines for seven weeks.

At the time, Morales was four victories shy of 2,000 for his career. He rode one race on May 8, but quickly realized he had not recovered sufficiently to compete at the level to which he is accustomed.

Determined to reach 2,000 before the current Tampa Bay Downs meeting ended, Morales set his mind to the task.

“I dedicated myself for 10 days to strengthening the area, jogging a lot and doing a lot of Equicizer work,” he said, referring to the mechanical horse controlled by a rider's movement.

“When I came back (on June 3), I felt such a difference.”

After racing in fourth place early, Sanguine and Morales moved smartly to the lead nearing the far turn and held off a late challenge from Aunt Dorothy to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Sanguine paid $4.60 to win as the betting favorite. “I knew she was the best horse in the race,” Morales said of the daughter of Quality Road. “I'm glad (Thomas) put the confidence in me to ride her.”

The occasion was recognized with a ceremony that included his rival jockeys in the winner's circle after the race.

“”It's a big accomplishment to me, because when I started. … you never think you're going to even make it to 1,000. Making it to 2,000, it's hard to believe,” Morales said. “I've been thinking about it a long time and it's not an easy task, so I'm very proud and I'm very thankful for all the help I've gotten through my career. I just want to keep on going.”

He got a good start in that regard in the fifth race, helping 3-year-old filly Leishlanick break her maiden for owner Wills Jarrett and trainer Angel M. Rodriguez.

Given the circumstances surrounding his injury and the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic that has affected all aspects of daily life, Morales accepted achieving the feat in front of an empty grandstand, with his wife Erin and their two children, agent Paula Bacon and other relatives and friends watching from home.

“It definitely would have been sweeter with them here, but I really waited too long. I couldn't care less if I was the only person here,” he said, laughing.

But they were foremost in his thoughts beforehand and afterward. “Paula has made a big difference in my career, and I think I have made a difference in hers,” he said. “We are a great team. I give all the thanks to my wife, my parents and my brothers and sister, and my kids (Sophia and Camilo), who watch me every race. My parents are in town with me, so we'll go buy a steak after the races and celebrate a little.”

Morales, a five-time riding champion at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa., plans to return there for the meeting beginning July 27.

Morales is fourth in the 2019-2020 Oldsmar standings with 61 victories. He has won two graded stakes, capturing the Grade II Super Derby in 2005 at Louisiana Downs on The Daddy and the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes here last year on Well Defined.

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