Carmouche collects third of four wins aboard Dublin Girl in Maddie May
The importance of saving ground on Aqueduct’s inner track was on display again in Sunday’s $100,000 Maddie May Stakes as Dublin Girl received a terrific ride from Kendrick Carmouche that enabled her to win the race for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies by a length.
Kept in the No. 2 path behind dueling leaders early in the race, Dublin Girl was able to split horses when a gaping hole presented itself in upper stretch. Carmouche guided Dublin Girl through the hole and then back to the rail in the final furlong. Meanwhile, Toni Tools, who sat outside of Dublin Girl down the backstretch, had to go four wide in the stretch under Manny Franco and had to settle for second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Bree’s Got Heart, the slight 5-2 favorite. Cha Cha Heels, Bliss to You, and Treatherlikestar completed the order of finish.
The win was one of four from six rides on the eight-race card for Carmouche, whose other victories came aboard Lucky Lotto ($4.50), Littlemissbusiness ($8.70), and Perina’s Pride ($5.80).
Carmouche said he was “dedicated” to the inside spot early on aboard Dublin Girl.
“I was just sitting patient hoping something would open up,” he said.
Dublin Girl, a daughter of Dublin owned and bred by Joemar Racing Stables and trained by Dominick Schettino, is now 2 for 2 around two turns after losing her first two starts sprinting.
“She’s maturing each race. She seems to be getting better and better,” Schettino said. “She settled nice, sat perfect, Kendrick gave her an excellent ride.”
Dublin Girl covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:46:46 and returned $7.60 as the second choice.
Schettino had previously trained the runner-up, Toni Tools, before her owners, Anthony and Maryellen Bonomo, merged their stable with Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable and Schettino lost several horses to trainer Todd Pletcher. Schettino said he did not take any extra glee in beating Toni Tools.
“Nah, that’s horse racing,” he said. “I don’t feel any different. Both horses ran very good races.”
Racing resumes at Aqueduct on Thursday when first post moves to 12:50 p.m. Eastern.
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