McCarthy relishing first graded win

"I've been around plenty of nice, graded stakes horses, but this is the first

winner on my own. I'm very excited."

Those were the words of trainer Mike McCarthy in the

winner's circle following Saturday's Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes victory

with No Problem, the first graded stakes of the Bing Crosby season and the first

upper echelon victory for a McCarthy representative.

The graded horses McCarthy had been around were

those of East Coast trainer Todd Pletcher, for whom McCarthy was an assistant

for more than 11 years. Just less than a year ago, McCarthy struck out on his

own and returned to his roots on the West Coast to be with his wife and young

daughter.

Before joining Pletcher, who is headquartered in New York

and Florida, McCarthy, 43, had worked for several trainers on the West Coast.

"John O'Hara, Randy Winick, Doug Peterson, Ben Cecil,"

McCarthy explained. "I could go on. The list gets pretty long."

While McCarthy worked for Pletcher in the East, his wife

and daughter remained on the West Coast, necessitating several cross-country

trips.

"My wife has a job here and in today's economic climate it is better to

have two good jobs than no jobs at all," McCarthy told the Thoroughbred Daily

News on the occasion of his first starter, Norastone, in the California Cup Oaks

on January 25.

McCarthy's wife, Erin, works for the Merrill-Lynch

investment firm. His daughter, Stella, celebrated her fourth birthday on Sunday.

"It has been a big weekend, we're getting ready for a big

party," McCarthy grinned.

The conditioner currently has 13 horses. No Problem is owned by

the P&G Stables of Hernando Gutierrez and Nerina Morales of Southwest Ranches,

Floria. The Bob Hope win was the second straight in three starts in a career that

started on September 27 for the Kentucky-bred son of Munnings.

"I expressed an interest in the horse, Hernan and Dorina

were nice enough to send him out to me," McCarthy said. "I'm very grateful.

They're very good people."

After three races in seven weeks, No Problem, whom McCarthy

describes as a "gutty little horse," will be given time off before his next

start.

Alright Alright and St. Joe Bay, the respective second and third in the

Bob Hope, came out of the race in good order, their respective trainers

reported.

"I thought he ran a game and hard race," said Darrell

Vienna, trainer of Alright Alright. "The track had been playing to the inside

and speed. He broke last and was outside most of the way."

Alright Alright was

beaten a half-length as the even-money favorite. Vienna said the chestnut son of Munnings would not race again at the meeting.

Peter Miller, trainer of third-place St. Joe Bay, noted the

Saint Anddan colt's wide trip after breaking outwardly from the outside post.

St. Joe Bay was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by No Prolbem.

"He ran well, all things considered," Miller remarked. "We'll

bring him back in the Cecil B. DeMille."

The Grade 3, $150,000 Cecil B. DeMille

Stakes, sending juveniles a mile on the turf, is scheduled for November 30, closing day of

the Bing Crosby Season.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com