From a Maryland Jockey Club release
Eric D. Fral’s Made Up rallied from the back of the pack to win the $47,000 optional/allowance feature as the even-money favorite this afternoon at Pimlico Race Course.
Guided by leading rider Trevor McCarthy and trained by Michael Moore at Parx Racing, Made Up covered the 1-1/16th mile distance in 1:46.96 and won off by 8-1/4 lengths. Wonderful Secret nipped stakes winner Firenze Feeling at the wire for second. The daughter off Bluegrass Cat paid $4.20.
“We had a really good trip,” McCarthy said. “I followed Rudy’s horse (Firenze Feeling from Rudy Rodriguez barn) because I knew she would run well. I had a lot of horses in the middle of the turn and I had not even asked her yet. When I swung her out wide turning for home, she just took off.”
The 19-year-old, who became a journeyman rider two weeks ago, has 11 multiple win-days in the first 18 days of the spring meet. He leads the jockey standings with 29 victories, 13 more than Victor Carrasco.
“We are having a fantastic meet,” added McCarthy. “I am very fortunate that trainers are sticking with me after I lost my apprenticeship. My agent (Scott Silver) is doing a great job. We are riding for a lot of top outfits and I feel very fortunate.”
A festive crowd of 5,547 enjoyed a picture-perfect afternoon at Old Hilltop, two weeks before the eyes of the horse racing world shift to Baltimore for the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1), the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown on May 17.
(Featured image by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.)
