Battle Bling rewards jockey McCarthy's confidence with Ladies Stakes triumph
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - When a horse gets claimed, there is no guarantee the jockey who rode said horse in that race will get to ride for the new connections. Especially when the horse lost the race from which it was claimed.
When it came to Battle Bling, Trevor McCarthy and his agent Joey Migliore made a big push to new trainer Rob Atras to ride her back wherever she ran next.
That start came in Sunday’s $100,000 Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct, and it was a strong ride from McCarthy that helped Battle Bling gut out a neck victory over Miss Leslie in the 151st running of the stakes for fillies and mares.
On Dec. 19, McCarthy rode Battle Bling to a neck loss to Maiden Beauty in an optional $62,500 claimer. Maiden Beauty came back 11 days later to win the $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes at Aqueduct.
McCarthy said when he saw Maiden Beauty come back to win “I begged” Atras to ride Battle Bling back.
“They were adamant about riding her back,” said Atras, who claimed the filly for owner Michael Dubb. “I said I got no problem riding him back, he’s a good rider. I like him, he’s very strong. We didn’t necessarily know we were going for the stakes. When we did nominate her, they reached out wanted to ride her.”
McCarthy was as persevering in his ride on Battle Bling as he and Migliore were in pursuit of the mount. Last of five in a race whose sixth entrant, Exotic West, stumbled and lost jockey Dylan Davis at the break, McCarthy had Battle Bling following favored Miss Leslie, who was in fourth. Around the far turn, McCarthy made his move to go around Miss Leslie, under Angel Cruz, and got the jump on that filly turning for home.
Over a demanding, tiring surface, McCarthy had just enough to hold off a bid from Miss Leslie, who would finish second, a half-length in front of fellow Maryland shipper Kiss the Girl. Vienna Code, who set splits of 24.97 seconds for the quarter, 50.91 for the half and 1:17.01 for six furlongs, finished fourth. Its Cold in Dehere was last. Both Exotic West, who went to her nose at start, and Davis were fine after the stumble.
“It just set up so beautiful,” McCarthy said. “I was able to follow [Miss Leslie] and get the jump on [Cruz] at the quarter pole and hold him off.”
The win was the third of what would be four wins - in succession - on the nine-race card for McCarthy.
Battle Bling, a 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver, covered the 1 1/8 miles over the demanding main track in 1:57.11 and returned $8.70 as the third choice.
Atras credited McCarthy’s “bold move” on the turf as a key to victory.
“I though it was a great move,” Atras said. “Trevor’s a strong rider and he held on.”