Majestic Reason Gets Job Done in $100,000 Willa On the Move
Jockey McCarthy Sweeps Sprint Stakes on Five-Win Day

LAUREL, MD – Rockingham Ranch’s 6-year-old gelding Threefiveindia, graded-stakes placed at 3 and 4, became a stakes winner for the first time while remaining unbeaten for his new connections with a three-quarter-length triumph in Saturday’s $100,000 Dave’s Friend at Laurel Park.

The Dave’s Friend for 3-year-olds and up was the first of five $100,000 stakes on a nine-race Christmastide Day program that included the Willa On the Move for fillies and mares 3 and older in wrapping up Maryland’s 2019 stakes schedule.

Ridden by Trevor McCarthy for California-based trainer Peter Miller, Threefiveindia ($3) ran six furlongs in 1:09.60 over a fast main track as the 1-2 favorite in a field of seven also featuring Isotherm, a two-time graded-stakes winner on turf, and Laurel stakes winner Home Run Maker, racing for the first time since June 1.

“He did everything right. He had no excuses today,” McCarthy said. “Everything went really smooth, so it’s nice when it happens like that.”

McCarthy swept both older sprint stakes, capturing the Willa On the Move with Graham Motion-trained Majestic Reason as part of a five-win afternoon. McCarthy, who opened a 52-45 edge over Sheldon Russell for the the fall meet riding title, also took the $100,000 Native Dancer on Someday Jones.

“It’s always great to have a good day on a stake day,” McCarthy said. “I’m so privileged to ride so many nice horses today and huge credit to all the horses and everybody that got the horses ready. I was lucky enough to guide them around there.”

Long shot Fiber and Emily was hustled to the lead from Post 2 and was in front through a quarter-mile in 22.59 seconds, stalked to his outside by Threefiveindia, a front-running winner of his previous start Nov. 14 at Del Mar. Fiber and Emily began to weaken on the turn and was overtaken by Threefiveindia following a half in 45.54.

McCarthy and Threefiveindia opened up by three lengths at the top of the stretch and remained in command from there, having plenty left to dismiss a closing bid from Arch Cat. Smooth B was third, followed by Clubman, Fiber and Emily, Isotherm and Home Run Maker.

Miller claimed Threefiveindia for $40,000 out of a third-place finish Sept. 19 at Los Alamitos, gave him some time and brought him back in a seven-furlong optional claimer Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, where he sat off the early lead and came flying up the rail to win by seven lengths. Threefiveindia led at every call last time out, crossing the wire 3 ½ lengths in front.

“Peter actually told me he thought he was a better horse off the pace running at a target and being off the lead, so my plan was to get a good break,” McCarthy said. “I thought Smooth B would really hustle a little bit more out of there, but I outbroke him pretty well and Peter said if I got an easy lead, great. He won’t mind it. But, he really thought he’s a better horse running at a target.

“So, I just let that long shot go and let him have something to run at. [Fiber and Emily] was good up until about the five-sixteenths pole and that’s when I inherited the lead,” he added. “He really ran a good race today. I’m very happy to be aboard him and it’s a huge privilege to ride for Peter. They did a great job with him and I’m very lucky.”

Majestic Reason Gets Job Done in $100,000 Willa On the Move

Hillwood Stable and Richard Golden’s Majestic Reason, second to 10-time stakes winner Anna’s Bandit twice in her last four starts, proved to be the class of the field as she scooted through an opening along the rail and held off 18-1 long shot Wildcat Combat to capture the $100,000 Willa On the Move.

Majestic Reason completed the distance in 1:10.68 to earn her second career stakes win following the Miss Disco last August at Laurel, where she improved her record to four wins, four seconds and a third from nine tries.

“She was super sharp today. I couldn’t believe how sharp she was just coming off a quick lkayoff. I was really happy with her,” McCarthy said. “Thumbs up to Graham and [assistant] Adrian [Rolls] who have done a tremendous job with this filly. It’s always nice when I win for Graham. He’s been such a huge part of my career, as many trainers have, but he started me out so it’s always a special moment winning races for him.”

Stakes winner Baby Boss, sent off as a slight 9-5 favorite over Majestic Reason, was eager for the lead and held it after going the opening quarter-mile in 22.42 seconds pressed by Cause I’m Edgy, as Majestic Reason settled in third. Baby Boss was still in front after a half in 46.43, when McCarthy found room on the inside to send Majestic Reason and set her down for a drive to the wire.

Wildcat Combat was a clear second, three lengths ahead of Baby Boss. Angel At War rallied from far back to be fourth.

McCarthy was aboard Majestic Reason in her previous race, a runner-up effort behind Anna’s Bandit in the six-furlong Politely Stakes Dec. 7 at Laurel, where she got the jump on her rival but fell a length short.

“I learned a lot from her last time when I rode her,” McCarthy said. “There wasn’t much pace that day and she broke well and they kind of swarmed me a little bit at the half-mile pole and she wasn’t quite ready to go yet. I kind of let them go and waited for a seam.

“When I saw Anna’s Bandit bottled up, I was happy as can be. I got through and she was still waiting,” he added. “My filly is such a game filly. Anna’s Bandit has beat this filly twice, so for her to come back and win today is huge.”