trevor mccarthy | Horse Racing Free Tips

Malibu Mischief Runs Win Streak To Six With Easy Laurel Park Score

Malibu Mischief, a 4-year-old filly owned and trained by Rudy Rodriguez, extended her win streak to six races in impressive fashion by flirting with a track record in her latest triumph Sunday at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

Sent off at 1-5 in the third-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up, Malibu Mischief ($2.60) led every step of the way in overpowering her rivals to win by five lengths under a hand ride from jockey Trevor McCarthy.

The winning time of 1:02.48 over a fast main track was just .28 off the course record of 1:02.20 set by 6-year-old Siralfredthegreat Oct. 6, 2018.

“Rudy said make sure you get her away from there and get her away hard because she loves the lead and she doesn't always get away the best,” McCarthy said. “When we broke so good and we were out there loose, I said, 'Man, she is smoking but she is so comfortable.' She's just got a high cruising speed. I think her performance speaks for itself. She really just kind of kicked away from a good group of horses.”

Breaking from the far outside in a field reduced to five by the early scratch of Charles Town Oaks (G2) winner Fly On Angel, Malibu Mischief rocketed to the front and quickly opened up on her rivals through fractions of 22.44 and 44.73 seconds. I'm the Talent stalked the leader but was unable to keep up and Malibu Mischief rounded the turn well in command and drew off through the stretch with little urging.

“They actually sprung the gate when I was yelling 'No,' and when she saw that latch, she was like, 'See ya,'” McCarthy said. “She's just so fast, and even when I got to a comfortable lead and I just went to go little easier, she wanted to go. I was just trying to keep her happy. When she hit the turn I thought, 'Man, she is rolling,' and every time I tried to just nurse her she was like, 'No, let me go.'”

The win was the second straight at Laurel for Malibu Mischief following a second-level spot going the same distance Oct. 23 originally carded for the turf. The New York-based Rodriguez spent $12,500 to claim the bay daughter of Goldencents who improved to 10-for-22 lifetime.

Malibu Mischief's streak began June 7 at Belmont Park, her first start since being eased March 8 at Aqueduct prior to the pause in racing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Rodriguez haltered her July 10 and has won races at Saratoga, Delaware and two in a row at Laurel by 22 ¼ combined lengths.

“I was worried because last time she broke a step slow, but when she broke on top today I said it looked like we were in pretty good position. That's her weapon and that's what she wants to do,” Rodriguez said. “She's been a nice little claim. The first time we try to claim her she pulled up and they voided the claim. Then I let her go a couple times more and said, 'I'm going to claim her,' and thank God it's working out good.”

Rodriguez said he will keep all options open when seeking a return spot for Malibu Mischief.

“I just wanted to win the starter allowance with her but she did it so good and came back so good out of the race. When I ship her to Delaware she did very, very good so I took her to Laurel and she did even better. Now it looks like she can take a step up,” Rodriguez said. “I have to take a look and see where she fits. It looks like we got a filly with a nice future.”

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Jersey-Bred No Cents Invades Laurel For James F. Lewis III Win; Street Lute Takes Smart Halo

Isabelle de Tomaso and Hope Jones' homebred No Cents, making his local and stakes debut off back-to-back wins out of town, corralled favored Dalton in mid-stretch and edged past for a comfortable 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 James F. Lewis III at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

The ninth running of the Lewis was the second of two six-furlong juvenile sprint stakes on the Salute to Veterans Day program, preceded by the 24th renewal of the $100,000 Smart Halo for fillies, won by Street Lute.

No Cents ($10.80) completed the distance in 1:09.16 over a fast main track to give jockey Trevor McCarthy his third straight Lewis win and fourth overall. He also finished first with eventual graded-stakes winner El Areeb in 2016, Scrap Copper in 2018 and Newstome in 2019. Winning trainer Cal Lynch also trained El Areeb.

“I definitely wanted to leave a little something in the tank and not overdo it with him. He's a 2-year-old so hopefully we'll have a bright future with him,” McCarthy said of No Cents. “Cal seems to always have these colts ready, so big credit to him. It's just a huge privilege to me. They made me look good today.”

Dalton, beaten a neck when second to subsequent Nashua (G3) winner Pickin' Time last out, showed good early foot and established the lead before Lugamo, riding a two-race win streak, worked over from his outside post to be in front after a quarter-mile in 22.05 seconds. McCarthy settled No Cents in fifth and was still looking at a wall of horses when the field rounded the far turn.

Lugamo maintained a slim margin after a half in 45.02 but was quickly overtaken by Dalton at the top of the stretch. At that point, McCarthy tipped No Cents to the middle of the track and set his sights on Dalton, steadily gaining ground before wresting the lead away inside the eighth pole.

It was 2 1/4 lengths back to Lugamo in third and another three to Texas Basin, followed by Heir Port, Kenny Had a Notion, Singlino and Fearless Fly. Kenny Had a Notion had won his two previous races, both in Laurel stakes, one each on the turf and dirt.

“We had a great trip. We had a good break and I was happy to get a good position and be able to follow [Dalton]. That was kind of my target to run with, so it was nice,” McCarthy said. “We were able to save ground and get a nice little breather and when we came past the five-sixteenths pole, I was just being patient with him. I knew I had a ton of horse underneath me and I was just kind of seeing where [Dalton] went.

“As soon as I tipped outside of him I just gave him a nice target to run at,” he added. “When I wanted him to finish up strong, he did, and when I wanted him to take a little bit of a break at the wire when I knew I kind of had it, he settled down. He's very push-button. He does everything you want him to do.”

A bay son of Goldencents out of the Petitionville mare Faker, No Cents made each of his first three starts in New Jersey, where he was bred. Second by a length in debut Aug. 29, he won a maiden special weight against state-breds Sept. 27 before a game neck open allowance triumph Oct. 21.

The $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity for state-bred/sired horses Dec. 5 and $100,000 Heft Dec. 26 are the final two stakes for 2-year-olds at Laurel in 2020.

Street Lute Delivers in $100,000 Smart Halo Victory
Lucky 7 Stables' Street Lute, beaten at the wire in the Maryland Million Lassie in her previous start, slipped through a seam on the inside around the turn and quickly separated from the field to rebound with a 2 3/4-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Smart Halo.

It was the second career Smart Halo win for trainer Jerry Robb following Lake Sebago in 2014, and first for jockey Xavier Perez. The winning time was 1:09.85.

The Lassie Oct. 24 at Laurel, where she came up a neck short of Miss Nondescript, was the first career loss for Street Lute ($5) following a pair of wins, including a front-running five-length score in the Small Wonder Stakes Sept 26 at Delaware Park.

“It's definitely a little bit of redemption. In the Maryland Million she had to chase the speed and hold off closers, and she didn't see the horse coming or I think she might have won that race,” Robb said. “She thinks she won it, so we tell her she did.”

Street Lute rated in third in the early going Saturday as 30-1 longshot Donnybrook Girl broke running and zipped the opening quarter-mile in 21.69 seconds pressed by recent maiden winner Be Sneaky. Perez stayed patient and took advantage of a narrow opening midway around the turn to establish the lead, drawing clear once straightened for home. Out of Sorts trailed the field in the early going, ranged up on the far outside and closed steadily down the center of the track for second, with Be Sneaky another length back in third.

Prodigy Doll, Swirling Dancer, Docs Seven, Donnybrook Girl and Supreme Blessing completed the order of finish.

“The instructions were to try and get a good break and see. I thought [Prodigy Doll] might go and she didn't. You definitely don't know what they're going to do so you have to leave it up to the jockeys,” Robb said. “He let [Donnybrook Girl] go and laid right off of her and somehow he got through. It worked out perfect.”

Robb said the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship for state-bred/sired fillies Dec. 5 at Laurel will be the next likely target for Street Lute.

“We'll keep her in Maryland for now,” he said. “The Juvenile will probably be next.”

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Pickin’ Time Runs Down Ten For Ten To Win Nashua

Pickin' Time overtook the favorite and pacesetter Ten for Ten in the final furlong and powered home a 2 1/4-length winner to notch his first graded stakes victory in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua for juveniles at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Owned by John Bowers, Jr., Pickin' Time entered with ample stakes experience for trainer Kelly Breen, following his debut win at 4 ½ furlongs in July at Monmouth Park. After running eighth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on August 7, Breen returned the Stay Thirsty colt to Monmouth for consecutive stakes appearance, where he ran second in the one-mile Sapling on September 6 before winning the six-furlong Smoke Glacken on September 27.

Stretched back out to a mile for the first time since the Sapling, Pickin' Time broke sharp from post 4 under jockey Trevor McCarthy, who tracked initially in fifth position before moving up to fourth as 6-5 favorite Ten for Ten [pressured by Isolate] led the seven-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.86 seconds with the half in 46.10 and three-quarters in 1:11.98 over the fast main track.

Out of the turn, jockey Eric Cancel kept Ten for Ten near the rail, while McCarthy made a strong bid from the outside at the top of the stretch. Pickin' Time picked off his rival and finished strong, completing the course in a final time of 1:39.89 to improve to 3-1-0 in five starts.

“We got a great break and that's what I wanted; get him out and make sure he had a comfortable spot, which he did,” said McCarthy, who also won the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm on Saturday at Aqueduct. “Looking down the backside, I was very comfortable where I was. I wasn't getting too much kickback and that seems to be a pretty big key this weekend. I was able to get outside coming to the turn and let him get in his mojo. After that, he really accelerated strong for me and gave me a great effort through the lane. I was delighted.

“Kelly had him ready today,” he added. “He was the most experienced horse in the race, so I was really happy looking into that. Everything worked out perfect.”

Breen said the Grade 2, $150,000 Remsen on Cigar Mile Day on December 5 is the next target for the New Jersey homebred. The 1 1/8-mile test offers 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the 2021 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

“He's just growing into himself,” Breen said. “He was kind of a big and gawky 2-year old. When he ran in Saratoga, he ran against that real nice horse of Steve Asmussen's [Jackie's Warrior]. We didn't get off great that day. Today was the right timing and everything worked out well for him. He's staying right where he's at. We'll look forward to the Remsen.”

Off at 9-1, Pickin' Time returned $21.00 on a $2 win bet. He improved his career earnings to $184,025.

Courtlandt Farms' Ten for Ten a $410,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, was 10 ¼ lengths the best of Isolate for second in his stakes debut for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

“I had a really nice trip,” Cancel said. “The pace was a little bit quick at the beginning, but I went on with it. My horse was pretty comfortable, nice and focused and he seemed to be doing it easy until we got to the quarter pole and the other horse got to him quick. He just went by. My horse never gave up. He kept on trying but the other one flew by him.”

Nova Rags, Civil War, Irish Honor and Spectatorless completed the order of finish.

The Nashua, named for the Hall of Famer who won ran second in the 1955 Kentucky Derby before winning the Belmont Stakes and Preakness, was the final leg of a Cross Country Pick 5 with Churchill Downs, with a payout of $6,424.75 for selecting all five winners. The total pool was $52,913.

There will be a Cross Country Pick 5 offered every day in November that both Aqueduct and Churchill Downs offer live racing.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card that features a first post of 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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Royal Flag Flies Late To Capture Turnback The Alarm Stakes

W.S. Farish's Royal Flag arrived at the Grade 3, $100,000 Turnback the Alarm off of three straight placings against stakes company, but finally prevailed when saving ground along the rail and displaying a late kick to capture the 1 1/8-mile event for fillies and mares over the Aqueduct main track.

The 4-year-old daughter of multiple champion-producing stallion Candy Ride broke sharply from post 2 under Trevor McCarthy and secured a spot to the inside as Graceful Princess commanded the pace into the first turn through splits of 24.38 and 49.52 seconds over the fast main track.

Approaching the far turn, Graceful Princess gave way as Nonna Madeline and Mrs. Orb raced in tandem on the front end with Royal Flag in pursuit. At the top of the stretch, McCarthy angled Royal Flag three paths to the outside and was in front past the sixteenth pole to win by by 2 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1:54.08.

Mrs. Orb finished 1 ½ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Nonna Madeline. Another Broad and Graceful Princess completed the order of finish.

“She comes from off the pace, but I got a great trip,” McCarthy said. “I was able to save some ground and then got her outside and she gave me a great kick. She's a nice filly and she gave me everything she had. As soon as she came off the turn, I went lefthanded and then went back to the right and she really accelerated and went right by the other two horses.”

McCarthy said he came prepared for Saturday's race.

“I did a lot of homework on this race,” said McCarthy. “It was a five-horse field and I watched every horse about three or four times and kind of figured out where they were going to be and where the best spot for my horse would be and where she would feel comfort-wise. You have a bunch of plans in your head of what can work out and you take it from the break and figure out which plan you are going to use.”

Trained by Chad Brown, who sent out 2016 Turnback the Alarm winner Lewis Bay, Royal Flag was previously a hard-fought second to Nonna Madeline in the Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park after acquiring graded stakes black type when second in the Grade 3 Shuvee at Saratoga and third in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park.

Royal Flag, the even-money favorite, returned $4.10 and bolstered her career earnings to $245,520 through a consistent record of 8-4-2-2.

Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Royal Flag is out of the multiple black type producing Mineshaft mare Sea Gull, who also produced five-time graded stakes winner Catalina Cruiser and multiple stakes winner Eagle.

Live racing resumes on Sunday at the Big A, featuring the Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua [Race 9, 3:47 p.m.] for 2-year-olds going a one-turn mile over the main track. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

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