Emotional McCarthy celebrates Look Forward's Eight Belles win

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A cutback in distance following two difficult trips going long and an aggressive ride from Umberto Rispoli resulted in Look Forward becoming a Grade 2 stakes winner Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs, a victory that proved quite emotional for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Sitting an up-close second under Rispoli, Look Forward took over from Impulse Buy in upper stretch and edged away to a 1 1/4-length victory over Louisiana-bred stakes winner Blue Fire in the Grade 2, $600,000 Eight Belles Stakes

McCarthy took over the training of Look Forward late last fall after the filly’s previous trainer, Ben Cecil, passed away on Nov. 29 – three weeks after the filly won her debut. Early in McCarthy’s career, he worked as a foreman and an assistant to Cecil.

“You don’t ever really want to come across a horse like this under these circumstances,” McCarthy said, tears welling in his eyes. “I’m very happy for Ben’s family. [He’s] a guy I worked for, had a couple of laughs with. It’s come to fruition. It’s all good.”

:: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more.

Look Forward, a daughter of Bolt d’Oro owned by Paul Reddam, finished second in the Los Alamitos Starlet at 1 1/16 miles last December before winning the seven-furlong Santa Ysabel in her second start for McCarthy.

In an attempt to get on the Kentucky Oaks trail, McCarthy shipped Look Forward to Oaklawn, where she finished seventh in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes. There, she wasn’t set when the gate opened and chucked it when she got dirt in her face. In the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland, Look Forward broke slow, rushed up, dueled for the lead, and retreated to sixth.

Friday, with severe weather alerts posted all over the track, the Eight Belles was moved up several minutes. It was also run over a sealed, fast track. The rain started during the running of the race.

Under Rispoli, Look Forward broke sharp and was in between horses just off of the pacesetting Impulse Buy, stalking that one through a quarter in 21.92 seconds and a half-mile in 44.17. Straightening way down the lane, Look Forward shook clear and, under a busy Rispoli, held Blue Fire at bay to the wire. Look Forward covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.36 and returned $17.04. Look Forward earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Her work here this week was fantastic,” McCarthy said. “She broke with them today and Umberto was always able to keep her in a good spot. Around the turn, it always looked like she was traveling comfortably, was able to put a neck on those horses, and had enough to finish out the job nicely.”

The victory by Look Forward came one day before McCarthy and Rispoli attempt to win Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

“This is a great win for Paul and everybody. [I'm] very happy that Umberto’s got some momentum here this week,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said he would love to be able to bring Look Forward to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Test Stakes on Aug. 2.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.