Bob Hope Runners Exit in Good Order

 

Those were the words of trainer Mike McCarthy in the winner’s circle following Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Bob Hope Stakes victory with No Problem, the first graded stakes of the Bing Crosby season and the first upper echelon victory for a McCarthy representative.

 

The graded stakes horses McCarthy had been around were those of East Coast trainer Todd Pletcher, for whom McCarthy was an assistant for more than 11 years. Just less than a year ago, McCarthy struck out on his own and returned to his roots on the West Coast to be with his wife and young daughter.

 

Before joining Pletcher, who is headquartered in New York and Florida, McCarthy, 43, had worked for several trainers on the West Coast.

 

“John O’Hara, Randy Winick, Doug Peterson, Ben Cecil,” McCarthy said. “I could go on. The list gets pretty long.”

 

While McCarthy worked for Pletcher in the East, his wife and daughter remained on the West Coast, necessitating several cross-country trips. “My wife has a job here and in today’s economic climate it is better to have two good jobs than no jobs at all,” McCarthy told the Thoroughbred Daily News on the occasion of his first starter, Norastone, in the California Cup Oaks on January 25.

 

McCarthy’s wife, Erin, works for the Merrill-Lynch investment firm. His daughter, Stella, is celebrating her fourth birthday today.

 

“It has been a big weekend, we’re getting ready for a big party,” McCarthy said.

 

McCarthy currently has 13 horses. No Problem is owned by the P&G Stables of Hernando Gutierrez and Nerina Morales of Southwest Ranches, Fl.  The Hope win was the second straight in three starts in a career that started on September 27 for the Kentucky-bred son of Munnings.

 

“I expressed an interest in the horse, Hernan and Dorina were nice enough to send him out to me,” McCarthy said.  “I’m very grateful.  They’re very good people.”

 

After three races in seven weeks, No  Problem, whom McCarthy describes as a “gutty little horse,” will be given time off before his next start.

 

Alright Alright and St. Joe Bay, the 2-3 finishers in the Bob Hope, came out of the race in good order, their respective trainers reported.

 

“I thought he ran a game and hard race,” said Darrell Vienna, trainer of Alright Alright. “The track had been playing to the inside and speed. He broke last and was outside most of the way.”

 

Alright Alright, a son of Munnings who was a $250,000 purchase at the Barretts Sale in March for Jed Cohen’s Red Baron’s Barn LLC, was beaten a half-length as the even-money favorite. Vienna said Alright Alright would not race again at the meeting.

 

Peter Miller, trainer of third-place St. Joe Bay, noted the Saint Anddan colt’s wide trip after breaking outwardly from the outside post. St. Joe Bay was beaten 1 ½ lengths.

 

“He ran well, all things considered,” Miller said. “We’ll bring him back in the  Cecil B. DeMille.” The Grade III $150,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes, one mile on the turf for 2-year-olds is on November 30, closing day of the Bing Crosby Season.