M C Squared Posts Front-Running Upset in Friday Feature; G3 Winner Metaboss Finishes Sixth as Favorite in Comeback
M C Squared Posts Front-Running Upset in Friday Feature; G3 Winner Metaboss Finishes Sixth as Favorite in Comeback
G3 Winner Metaboss Finishes Sixth as Favorite in Comeback
Pick 5, Rainbow 6 Carryovers for Saturday’s Program
Meet-Leading Rider McCarthy Scores Four-Win Day
LAUREL, MD – D A S L Stable’s M C Squared set the pace and emerged from a tight five-way photo finish to upset Friday’s featured optional claiming allowance at Laurel Park.
The $45,000 event featured the return of Grade 3 winner Metaboss, who finished sixth as the favorite after being trapped behind horses in deep stretch in his first start since last March. The winning time was 1:34.82 over a Kelso Turf Course rated good.
“It was a good race,” Metaboss’ managing partner Mersaud Metanovic said. “As we said he wasn’t 100 percent. He’ll run better next time. We’re disappointed a little bit but that’s the way it goes.”
Ridden by Richard Monterrey for trainer Ollie Figgins III, M C Squared ($19.80) was left on an uncontested lead through a quarter-mile in 24.13 seconds, a half in 47.32 and six furlongs in 1:11.45 chased by Troubled Waters to his outside and Helm at the rail and Metaboss saving ground in sixth under Horacio Karamanos.
Troubled Waters dropped back as the group began to converge approaching the stretch, with M C Squared digging in as Bank Float and My Enigma joined the challenge. The 5-year-old gelding got his nose down on the wire for his third win in four lifetime starts on the Laurel turf.
“I just knew it was a head-bob,” Figgins said. “I knew we were close and once I saw it in slow motion I thought we had a chance. This horse relaxes really good for Richard. I don’t know what Richard does but he kind of puts him to sleep up there. He goes quick fractions but he does it in a relaxed manner, and he carries his speed.”
Metaboss, winner of the 2015 El Camino Real Derby (G3) making his first start for trainer Michael Dickinson, appeared poised to split M C Squared and Bank Float in the final eighth but was unable to get through the opening.
“It was his first race in over a year. He ran well and we’re very pleased with him,” Dickinson said. “We didn’t have enough room when we wanted it but I’m thrilled with the run.”
Pick 5, Rainbow 6 Carryovers for Saturday’s Program
There will carryovers in both the 50-cent Pick 5 and 20-cent Rainbow 6 for Saturday’s 11-race program. First race post time is 1:10 p.m.
No one selected all five winners in the Pick 5, resulting in a carryover of $11,970.65 for the popular multi-race wager which offers an industry-low 12 percent takeout. Tickets with four of five winners returned $441.30.
Saturday’s Pick 5 spans races 7-11 and includes the featured $47,000 optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the Kelso Turf Course in Race 10.
There were no bettors who had all six winners in the Rainbow 6, creating a carryover of $1,502.35. Tickets with four of six winners returned $209.96.
The Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 will span Races 6-11.
Meet-Leading Rider McCarthy Scores Four-Win Day
Jockey Trevor McCarthy added four wins to his meet-leading total on Friday, reaching the 60-win mark with five racing days remaining.
McCarthy scored consecutive wins in the third race with Take Cover ($4), the fourth race with If I Was a Boy ($8.60) and the fifth race with Lightning Electric ($9.40). He added a fourth when Over Saver ($9.60) took the 10th race finale.
Last year, McCarthy won nine races from just 47 mounts at the winter meet but captured two-month Preakness Meet at Pimlico with 34 wins and was second at Laurel’s 3 ½-month fall meet with 43 victories.
“It definitely bumps up your confidence and puts you in a great mood,” McCarthy said. “I was lucky that I got three in a row like that and for the weekend it’s a big push. I’m very fortunate and blessed by all the owners and trainers putting me up and the horses giving 100 percent.”
On Sunday, McCarthy will ride multiple Grade 3-winning Maryland-bred Ben’s Cat for the first time in the multi-millionaire’s 10-year-old debut. Ben’s Cat has 30 wins, 25 in stakes, and nearly $2.5 million in purse earnings from 53 lifetime starts.
“I’m pretty excited about Ben’s Cat. It’s my first time on him but I’ve worked him the last three times and I really liked him. He worked awesome the other day,” McCarthy said. “I just hope I can get it done for the team.”
Note: Jockey Victor Carrasco swept the early daily double with Two Wonders ($3.40) in the first race and Star Eighty ($7) in the second.
