Carter brings Grade 1 flavor to Wood Memorial Day card

By NY Hot List Staff | Friday, April 7, 2023

While Saturday’s card at Aqueduct may be highlighted by the Wood Memorial, New York’s premier Kentucky Derby prep, the lone Grade 1 stakes on the card will be the Carter Handicap (G1). The seven-furlong sprint is a showcase for some of the top sprinters in the game and Saturday’s field has a standout in Repo Rocks, who will be chasing a fifth straight win for trainer Jamie Ness.

Here’s the Hot List picks for the Carter:

The $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1), Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 8

(3) Expressman was a spectacular debut winner at Saratoga in August earning a 107 Beyer Speed Figure going seven-furlongs. In his most recent start in February, he won an allowance at Gulfstream Park going nine-furlongs. The cutback to today’s distance may put Expressman in a winning position. (4) Repo Rocks won his last four starts with two at Parx and the most recent were at the Big A in the seven-furlong Toboggan (G3) by more than eight-lengths and then in the Stymie going a mile. (5) Little Vic is also based at Parx and has found success in New York with a win in the Tom Fool (G3) that earned at triple-digit Beyer. (6) White Abarrio ships up to New York from Florida after a strong allowance victory at Gulfstream going the Carter distance with a career best speed figure. In December he was a close third in the Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct and the trainer then set the Carter as a goal.

The rest of the NY Hot List picks and the Special Saturday Pick 3 are available free of charge at this website.