Carter Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack

Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 1 Carter Handicap is on tap for Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens New York this Saturday, April 6 on a busy day at the New York track. Horses three years old and upward will be after the winner’s share of the $400,000 purse when they dash seven furlongs on Aqueduct’s main track.

A field of 7 will line up in the Carter Handicap – race 10 on Aqueduct’s jam-packed Saturday card. Post time is 5:49 PM – right before the Wood Memorial. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all seven entries for this Grade 1 race.

Sahara Sky – Jerry Hollendorfer trained Sahara Sky raced in graded stakes company for the first time two having won twice, finished second twice and recorded a third place finish in five Allowance races in 2012. He recorded an impressive win in that race – the Grade 2 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita January 19 at 21-1 odds and followed that with another terrific win in the Grade 2 San Carlos at Santa Anita at this distance February 23. He has won three of his last four starts, will have Joel Rosario in the saddle and is the likely favorite for the Carter!

Discreet Dancer – Todd Pletcher trained colt has been very impressive – four wins and a third place finish in five career starts. Last time out was a terrific win in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap by 5 1/4 lengths March 9 after an Allowance Optional Claiming score also at Gulfstream February 6 and an 11 month layoff. His only blemish so far was a third in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream three back in February of 2012. The layoff didn’t seem to hurt Discreet Dancer in the least – he is a contender for sure in the Carter.

Swagger Jack – had five starts in 2012 – all Allowance Optional Claiming races with two wins and a second place finish. He has three starts in 2013 – all at Gulfstream – an Allowance Optional Claiming score January 17, a nice second in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Stakes behind Fort Loudon February 9 and another good second last time out in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap. He has two wins and two seconds second in his last four starts overall and could threaten the field this weekend.

Fort Loudon – has placed in six of seven races since August and is coming off an OK third in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap March 9 behind Swagger Jack after a very good win in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Stakes February 9. Before that was a third in the Sunshine Millions Classic, a second in the Sunshine Stake Stakes and a good second in the Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs November 2. Fort Loudon has been in every race the last six months and has two wins and two seconds in four career starts at this distance.

Carter Handicap betting at Aqueduct Racetrack with OffTrackBetting.com

Brigand – Bob Baffert trained colt has five wins and five second place finishes in 14 career starts and enters the Carter having won four of his last six starts – the minor Turn of the Century Stakes at Aqueduct January 20 and the City of Laurel Stakes here December 8 being his most impressive results. He is coming off a fifth after getting demoted from second in his graded stakes debut – the Grade 3 General George Handicap at Laurel Park February 18 but before that had looked very good.

Saturday’s Charm – Steve Asmussen trained colt made his graded stakes debut last time out and finished an impressive second in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap behind Comma to the Top here March 2 after three wins, a second and two third place finishes in eight career starts. He has won a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races in his last five and had a Maiden Claiming victory six back. In his recent minor stakes action Saturday’s Charm had a third in the True and Blue Stakes here January 9 after a second in the Raymond Earl Stakes in December on this track December 9.

Consortium – Kiaran McLaughlin pupil has just seven career starts with two wins, two seconds and a third place finish – the only off-the-board finishes coming at the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes in January 2012 and last time out – a close fourth in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap here March 2. He raced three Allowance Optional Claiming races before the Tom Fool and finished with a win two back here January 19, a second and a third place finish. He will be looking for his first stakes win and enters in so-so form.

Race 10 on Aqueduct Racetrack’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:49 PM.