Red Mile: Andy McCarthy, Noel Daley triumph twice in International Stallion Stakes

Driver Andy McCarthy and trainer Noel Daley joined forces with Carve and Zaheera to win two of the three $108,000 International Stallion Stakes divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies that were held on Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile. Southwind Chaska was the other victor.

In the second split McCarthy and Carve were on top at the 27 4/5 quarter but took a shuffle back to third by the time the 55 1/5 half went on the board as Lainey W (Scott Zeron) and Jailbird Jog (James MacDonald) went by. After she hit the top, Jailbird Jog continued to lead to three-quarters in 1:23 2/5, but Carve was on a first-over advance at that point. Carve would go by Jailbird Jog to take command again in the lane, and from there, Carve was able to hold off a rallying Madam Cheval (Tim Tetrick) by half a length in 1:52. Sparks (Ake Svanstedt) finished third.

A daughter of Captain Corey bred by Diamond Creek Farm LLC., Carve is trained by Daley for owners Patricia Stable, L.A. Express Stable LLC. and Sjoblom Racing Inc. She has a summary of 2-5-2 from ten starts, has pocketed $216,791 and paid $3.52 to win.

Atlantic Summer (Yannick Gingras) cut the quarter in 28 seconds and the half in 57 2/5 in the last section, but she was overtaken by a first-up Next Big Think (Dexter Dunn) prior to the 1:25 three-quarters. When Next Big Think went around Atlantic Summer, that left Brattitude (Todd McCarthy) first-over with Zaheera (A. McCarthy) second-over. Next Big Think had a big jump on the others in the upper part of the lane, but McCarthy tipped Zaheera off the cover, she rallied by Next Big Think inside the last eighth and she held sway over Respect N Honor (Tetrick) by a neck in 1:53 2/5. Maya Patel Hanover (Svanstedt) grabbed third.

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"She's had a pretty good year," Andy McCarthy said after the race. "She's kind of been her own worst enemy sometimes, but she had a good day today. She gave me a workout, that's for sure. She's definitely a very fast filly and hopefully she puts it together at 3 because she has plenty of ability there, for sure."

Daley also co-owns Zaheera, who is by Gimpanzee and was bred by Lina Alm, with partners Allister Stables LLC., Harbor Racing Stable LLC. and Sjoblom Racing Inc. She has a pair of victories to go with four runner-up results from eight trips behind the gate, has banked $101,685 and returned $7.06 to win.

Back in the opening flight, Southwind Chaska (Tetrick) moved up on the outside to take the lead away from Busy Miss Lissy S (MacDonald) past the 28 2/5 quarter. Southwind Chaska stayed on the point through middle-half panels of 56 3/5 and 1:25, then came home in 27 1/5 to defeat a gaining Busy Miss Lissy S by a head in 1:52 1/5. Emmas Mystery CCL (A. McCarthy) collcted third.

Jim Oscarsson trains Southwind Chaska, a Tactical Landing filly bred by Southwind Farms, for owners Oscarsson Racing Stable Inc. and John Cummins. She has six wins, a second and a third from eight outings, has earned $237,625 and paid $4.14 to win.

"She was so nice after [her win last week in the Bluegrass Series]," Oscarsson said after the race. "I jogged her all week and she was fantastic, so we put her in again and it was good. I knew that was a speedy horse sitting behind [Busy Miss Lissy S], so I was a little worried about it. I wasn't sure once the finish line came, but she was good."

--quotes by Ray Cotolo--