Injured jockey McCarthy set for comeback

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Injured jockey Trevor McCarthy was scheduled to begin exercising horses Friday at Palm Meadows for trainer Graham Motion, according to agent Scott Silver.

McCarthy, 20, suffered a broken right wrist during the gallop-out of a Dec. 20 race at his home track, Laurel Park. He rode 263 winners last year, seventh-most in North America.

“He’ll be down here two or three weeks in some better weather, then start back at Laurel,” Silver said.

◗ The much-awaited 4-year-old debut of Wicked Strong is set for next Saturday in the Grade 1, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap, a one-mile race expected to get a short field of older horses.

Aside from Wicked Strong, the lineup is expected to include Honor Code, Private Zone, Valid, and a few others.

◗ Isabella Sings, making her first start since finishing 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, returned a winner Thursday at Gulfstream by holding off Ice Festival by three-quarters of a length in a first-level allowance at a mile on turf. Isabella Sings, a Siena Farm homebred by Eskendereya, finished second as the favorite in the Grade 2 Natalma at Woodbine last fall in her second career start. Todd Pletcher trains.

◗ Wednesday will be dark at Gulfstream to accommodate the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training, which will take place in the track’s walking ring. To replace the live date, Gulfstream will race on the St. Patrick’s holiday, Tuesday, March 17.