Photo - Courtesy of The Meadowlands
THE rise and rise of Bathurst-born Todd McCarthy continued when he caused a major upset to win the world’s biggest harness race, the $US1 million Hambletonian, at The Meadowlands on Cool Papa Bell this morning.
It came just two years after his older brother, Andy, won the famous race aboard Ramona Hill.
And Todd’s win continued a fairy tale year, having won Canada’s biggest race, the $CA1 million North American Cup on June 18 on Pebble Beach.
What is most remarkable is the fact Todd only made the move from being Menangle’s leading driver to try his luck in North America less than two years ago.
Cool Papa Bell stunned rivals and a huge crowd in oppressive New Jersey heat to win as a $53 outsider against the best three-year-old trotters in the world.
“This one is just so special,” McCarthy said. “I was so unexpected, while everybody thought I would win in Canada (with Pebble Beach).
“Races don’t get any bigger than this. It’s got so much history and Andy winning it was one of the biggest reasons I decided to give it a crack over here.”
As the track caller described: “Cool Papa Bell and Hot Toddy, a Hambletonian shocker.”
McCarthy made an immediate splash after moving to the US, being crowned the sport’s “Rising Star” in his first full season.
The Hambo win was the second feature and second major upset McCarthy scored on the day. He also won the feature mares’ race, the Lady Liberty on $51 shot Kobe’s Gigi. Former superstar Down Under mare Amazing Dream finished third in that race.
McCarthy now firmly sits up with former Kiwi superstar Dexter Dunn as one of the world’s top drivers.
Dunn also joined the party on the massive Hambo card as well, winning two of the features: the Sam McKee Memorial free-for-all and the John Cashman Memorial free-for-all.
And Andy McCarthy continued his affinity with Hambo Day, winning the feature two-year-old race, the $US355,000 Jim Doherty Memorial aboard Instagram Model.
Champion Down Under driver Anthony Butt was holidaying trackside to see the wins.
"It's been an incredible day. I've spoken to all the greats over here and everyone is saying our drivers have taken over and are the best drivers ... winning on anything regardless of the odds," he said.
Todd McCarthy still has loads of opportunities to build on his already magnificent 2022 with huge feature races looming in Ohio’s Little Brown Jug and the famed Red Mile Carnival in Lexington, Kentucky.
* Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
