Trevor McCarthy rode three winners June 26, closing day of the Preakness (gr. I) meet at Pimlico Race Course, to earn his second consecutive jockey title in Maryland this year.
Maryland racing moves from Pimlico to Laurel Park, which begins its meet July 1.
It was the second multi-win day of the week for McCarthy, 22, who put himself in contention for the title with three wins June 24.
"It's awesome," McCarthy said. "It's a great feeling, especially because I missed a lot of days this meet. I was able to ship out and ride some good horses, and to be able to do both means a lot."
Represented by agent Scott Silver, McCarthy entered Sunday's nine-race program tied with Victor Carrasco at 26 wins, with Feargal Lynch and Jevian Toledo right behind with 25. McCarthy swept the early daily double with Storm Net ($4.40) in the first race and Rafidain ($5.80) in the second, also taking the fifth with Louise the Laser ($4.60) to finish with 29 victories.
Carrasco and Lynch were shut out Sunday, while Toledo won the seventh race aboard Annawon ($12.40) to tie for second in the standings. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado, riding full-time in Maryland for the first time in 18 years, finished in a three-way tie for fifth with 13 wins.
Kieron Magee, Maryland's leading trainer in 2014 and 2015, clinched his fourth consecutive meet title during Friday's program and finished with 14 winners.
BLOOD-HORSE STAFF: Magee Clinches Training Title at Pimlico
"We have a good colony here, I think," McCarthy said. "Everybody wants to win and everybody wants to ride a good race. Everybody wants to be on the good horses, hustles hard, and works in the mornings. It all came down to the last couple weeks.
"Victor, Toledo, Feargal, Edgar—I've learned a lot from them and I just want to thank all of them for kind of pushing me to do better and ride better and pay attention to what they're doing.
"Especially Edgar—he's come here and I've learned so much just watching him. He's a great role model to look up to and we're privileged to have him here."
Maryland's leading rider in 2014, McCarthy edged Carrasco, 66-60, to win Laurel's winter-spring meet that preceded Pimlico.
"I couldn't have done it without the trainers and owners. My agent, Scotty, has done a great job," McCarthy said. "We had an awesome weekend this weekend. I just want to say thank you to all them—all the grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders—everybody that really takes part in the barn to get the horses ready and give me the privilege to ride them. When you're riding good horses, you're going to win a lot of races."
