McCarron Enjoys a Big Day at Home

Even though Chris McCarron missed the Kentucky Derby for only the second time since 1990, things worked out just fine for the Hall of Famer rider Saturday at Hollywood Park.

A week after he became the seventh jockey to reach 7,000 winners, McCarron won two more races, including a one-length victory aboard 17-10 second choice Futural in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap.

In a Grade III in which the two betting choices were bumped around at the break, Futural, a 5-year-old Future Storm gelding, won his third in a row, beating even-money favorite Skimming.

Owned by the Jess Miller Trust and Jack Weitz and trained by Craig Dollase, Futural completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42. It was his seventh win in 18 starts and pushed his earnings to $418,700.

Making his first start since Oct. 14, Skimming, the winner of last year’s Pacific Classic, was victimized by some trouble at the gate, then set fast fractions (22 4/5, 45 3/5 and 1:09 4/5 for six furlongs) and wound up 5 1/2 lengths of Moonlight Charger, the longest shot in the field of five at 26-1.

“It was the first time I’ve ridden him and he performed really well,” McCarron said. “He showed good speed and made Skimming run around that first turn to secure a position, which helped me outfinish him.

“This gelding is game and he likes to win photos. He obviously has improved a great deal.”

Garrett Gomez, who rode the runner-up after having been aboard Futural in his previous two victories, was hardly discouraged by Skimming’s effort.

“He absolutely ran a heck of a race,” he said. “At the half-mile pole, he usually hits another gear, but wasn’t able to do it today.

“I could feel him getting a little tired on the turn when [Futural] started to inch away from me, but he fought back and I think he has a bright future this summer.

“I’m not hesitant to say that I think he might even come back better than he was last summer.”

Euchre, the 3-1 third choice and, like Skimming, a comebacker for trainer Bobby Frankel, finished a distant fourth and Devine Wind was last.

Gourmet Girl will try to prove her win in last month’s Apple Blossom Handicap was no fluke when she takes on only four rivals in the $150,000 Hawthorne Handicap today.

The first prep for the $300,000 Vanity Handicap on June 30, the Hawthorne also attracted Feverish, the 8-5 second choice, Printemps, Cookin Vickie and Brianda.

Trained by Pico Perdomo for owner Gary Tanaka, Gourmet Girl, the 7-5 morning line choice, was 10-1 when she easily captured the Apple Blossom, a Grade I, at Oaklawn Park on April 8.

A 6-year-old daughter of Cee’s Tizzy, Gourmet Girl will be ridden by Victor Espinoza as she looks for her fifth win in 10 tries at Hollywood Park. In her last local appearance, she was beaten a head by Feverish in the Bayakoa Handicap last Dec. 23.

Kentucky Derby hero Monarchos was not the only next-out winner from the Wood Memorial.

Richly Blended, who finished a distant third behind Congaree and Monarchos in last month’s Wood at Aqueduct, rolled to a 4 1/4-length win over Le Grande Danseur and five other 3-year-olds in the $150,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.

Trained by Ben Perkins, Jr. for owner Ray Dweck and ridden by Rick Wilson, the son of Rizzi took the lead for good from Skip To The Stone after a half-mile and the only doubt from there was the final margin. Winning for the fourth time in five starts, the 9-10 favorite completed the mile in 1:35 3/5.

The on-track attendance at Hollywood Park was 20,525 and the total handle of $22,838,204.90 was the fourth highest in track history.