McCarron Is Victim of Second Thoughts : Jockey: He has won nearly every major stake, but is the runner-up for ninth time in one that eludes him.

Considering Chris McCarron’s history, nobody should have been surprised the way Saturday’s $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup turned out.

Riding Farma Way for the first time, McCarron was second by a head to Marquetry. What else is new? McCarron always is second in the Gold Cup.

A participant 11 times in Hollywood Park’s richest race, the jockey has been the runner-up nine times. Farma Way joins a McCarron honor roll that also includes Balzac, Erins Isle, Poley, John Henry, Precisionist, Tasso, Alysheba and Sabona.

The latest near-miss was the toughest to take for the rider, who has won nearly every other major race.

“This probably takes the cake,� he said after the 7-5 favorite came up short after chasing Marquetry for the entire 1 1/4 miles.

“I don’t believe in jinxes. That’s all in your head. I’ll get it one of these days.�

Before the Gold Cup and midway through the race, McCarron thought Saturday was the day.

“I thought I had Marquetry all the way,� he said. “I thought I was on the best horse. I thought Marquetry would be a little tough to beat. He didn’t have the best trip down inside (in the Californian), and he wasn’t beaten very far (2 1/4 lengths).

“Off that race and getting (a 12-pound break in the assigned weights), I thought he’d be tough. But I thought I had him at any time. I loved my trip all the way. It turned out just like I hoped it would except for the finish. The horse on the lead ran the race of his life.�

Perhaps, some would argue, McCarron would have been better off going right to the front with Farma Way after outbreaking Marquetry. But that didn’t seem a likely strategy in light of the Nassau County Handicap. In that race, Farma Way battled Jolie’s Halo for the early lead and tired, prompting trainer Wayne Lukas to dismiss Gary Stevens and employ McCarron.

“I knew we were going easy up front and I knew we were going slow,� he said. “I had to be aware of horses that might close, too, but I had no real concerns.

“I chirped to my horse going into the (far) turn and he picked it up, but (Marquetry) picked it up as well.�

Lukas had no complaints about McCarron’s performance, choosing instead to laud Farma Way.

“I thought he ran a super race,� he said. “He was giving the winner 12 pounds, he’s had a lot of trips and he’s been in a lot of different barns. I still think he’s the best horse in the country.

“I was concerned about all of them (the other Gold Cup starters). Marquetry was in with 110 pounds and he’s shown he can run. Chris rode (Farma Way) beautifully, he was relaxed, in excellent position and we ran at the winner and I thought we would get him.

“He showed again today that he’s a versatile horse. He proved his credibility again today.�