McCarthy Believes Golden Rod Winner Carina Mia Can Rate
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Trainer
Bill Mott’s assistant
Kenny McCarthy believes that Golden Rod (GII) winner
Carina Mia, who has gone straight to the lead in all three career starts, has the ability to sit off the pace in future starts.
“At this point it’s helping her to manage it a little bit,” McCarthy said. “Those kind of horses tend to keep themselves out of trouble and if there’s a slow pace scenario or a fast pace scenario I think she’ll adjust to it. I don’t think you want to reinvent the wheel with her too much, but it’s always nice if someone does gun it out there that we can sit behind horses.”
The daughter of Malibu Moon earned 10 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks following Saturday’svictory.
“It’s a long ways off, but how can you not help but think of the Oaks?” McCarthy said. “Obviously there are a lot of races that are very special and that [Kentucky Oaks] is one of them. I was only around her when she came here to Churchill but even in that short time, she’s matured real well. I think with anything she has the raw talent that allows her to do what she does.”
LUKAS HAS HIGH HOPES FOR RECENT MAIDEN VICTOR GRAY SKY
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas believes that 2-year-old Gray Sky, who broke his maiden in Saturday’s 12th race on the fifth attempt, will get better as he matures.
“We’ve been pretty high on this horse from the start so we’re glad to see this happen,” Lukas said. “I’ve always liked him, and although he’s very immature but he’ll get better as he gets a little bit older. [Jockey] Robby [Albarado] said the same thing. That was a very professional experience for him right now, I love that.”
Although the son of Tapit shortened back to one turn having run around two turns in his two prior starts, Lukas has faith that he will be able to route.
“He’s bred to be a two turn horse, but we’ll see,” he said. “We’re still trying to find one. So many times these 2-year-olds that are bred to route like this horse and [recent maiden winner] Z Royal are a little bit immature and they’ll get better as they turn into their 3-year-old year, hopefully.”
WALSH BULLISH ON 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY
Trainer Brendan Walsh thinks Jamm Ltd.’s 2-year-old filly Smart Shopping, who won her debut Saturday while clocking seven furlongs in 1:25.08 under jockey Robby Albarado, has a bright future.
“From the get-go, we’ve loved her,” Walsh said of the Smart Strike filly. “And it’s nice. You try not to get too carried away but it’s nice when they prove you right. Everything just went according to plan. It was a lovely ride and Robby (Albarado) wasn’t too hard on her. It was a great experience for her. Hopefully we can go onto bigger and better things. She’ll go down with us to Palm Meadows. … She’ll go two turns all day. We’ll see how she comes out of it and go from there, but it’s nice to win at first asking.”
LANERIE WINS 10TH CHURCHILL DOWNS RIDING TITLE
Jockey Corey Lanerie will win his 10th riding title at Churchill Downs when the 21-day Fall Meet wraps on Sunday. This will mark Lanerie’s 10th title in the last 11 meets at Churchill Downs, including eight in a row. Only Hall of Fame jockeys Pat Day (34) and Don Brumfield (12) have won more crowns beneath the Twin Spires.
"It makes me think I should do well,” Lanerie said. “If I don’t do well I’d be disappointed because I feel like I have to do well to stay at the top. It’s hard to get there and it’s hard to stay at the top once we get there, so we just keep working hard and keep trying.
“I’ve had good people behind me. My agent [Terry “Jaws” Miller] has done a good job and the owners and trainers are sticking with me and giving me great opportunities. Jockeys don’t win races; you have to have the horses for it and I’m getting all the good mounts and getting them across the wire first.”
With more than $8.1 million in earnings this year, 2015 has been Lanerie’s best in 25 years in the saddle. In addition to winning all three riding titles at Churchill Downs, the 41-year-old also added two Grade I victories to his résumé with W.D. Cubbedge’s Molly Morgan in the La Troienne on the Kentucky Oaks undercard and with Brody’s Cause in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He also won the fall riding title at Keeneland.
“This has been my most successful year to date and it seems to get better and better each year,” Lanerie said. “Hopefully we have another good meet at Gulfstream Park in the winter and pick up where we left off up here next spring.”
Corey Lanerie began Sunday with 30 wins at the meet, 12 more than Robby Albarado and Ricardo Santana, Jr.
While Lanerie has sealed up the riding title, the trainer title is still up in the air between trainers Steve Asmussen (11 wins), Chris Richard (10) and Mike Maker (9).
Asmussen has three entered on Sunday afternoon’s card with Royal Obsession (Race 8), California Coast (Race 9) and Wrath of Ruthie (Race 10). Richard also has three entered Sunday with Self Starter (Race 9), Scadaddle (Race 10) andAllstar (Race 12). Maker has the chance of tying with two entries of Old Mountain Lane (Race 7) and La Macchina (Race 9).
Ken and Sarah Ramsey have clinched their record-extending 25th owner’s title at Churchill Downs. They began the day with nine wins.
Source: Churchil Downs
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