OZONE PARK, N.Y. – National Identity may not be a totally different horse since he underwent throat surgery in April 2025, but there is one specific change that jockey Kendrick Carmouche notices about the 4-year-old New York-bred colt.
“He don’t feel different, but he sounds different,” Carmouche said. “He can breathe now. Before, he used to panic when he was close, you could feel him choking up. But he runs through it now, which is good. He makes me look good.”
National Identity and Carmouche both looked good Saturday at Aqueduct as Carmouche guided him to a front-running 1 3/4-length victory in the $135,000 Say Florida Sandy Stakes for state-bred sprinters. Acoustic Ave finished second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Quick to Accuse.
The win was the fourth straight for National Identity since he underwent a procedure known as a tie-back, which removes cartilage that can obstruct the airway. It was National Identity’s fifth win from 10 starts but first in a stakes. At 2 and 3, National Identity lost three stakes by a neck head or nose.
“It’s nice because he deserves it, he’s a classy horse, he tries his ass off every time,” trainer Danny Gargan said by phone from Florida where he watched the race on television.
National Identity, a son of Solomini, has proven versatile throughout this four-race winning streak. Saturday, Carmouche, was expecting either Acoustic Ave, under Jose Lezcano, or The Wine Steward, ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., to go forward.
El Grande O, under Sahin Civaci, and The Wine Steward were forward, but Carmouche was right there with National Identity. Sensing neither of his rivals were going very fast, Carmouche decided to ask his horse to go. After getting a first quarter in 23.41 seconds, National Identity opened up around the far turn. He went a haf-mile in 46.97 seconds, opened up a clear advantage and held Acoustic Ave at bay through the lane.
“That’s what made him win the race, that move on the turn,” Gargan said. “He’s good right now. When you’re on the best horse, you can make those moves and still win.”
National Identity, owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing,covered the seven furlongs in 1:24.80 and returned $4.82 as the favorite.
“Once I got the first quarter in 23 [seconds] and I let him run into the turn and it was over,” Carmouche said. “I thought the only horse that could have beat me was [Acoustic Ave] but he ran perfect. Listen, after Danny Gargan did the throat surgery you can see the difference.”
And hear it.
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