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Speaker’s Corner carrying good form into G1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets

by NYRA Press Office

• Speaker’s Corner carrying good form into G1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets
• First Captain hopes to set sail in G1 Carter
• Haynesfield winner Water’s Edge to target $200K Commentator
• Falcone, Jr. well represented on New York Claiming Championship card
• Aqueduct Racetrack spring meet Week 1 stakes probables

Godolphin’s Speaker’s Corner appears to have found his niche at the one-turn graded stakes level and will carry winning form into the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets on April 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old son of Street Sense will arrive at the historic seven-furlong sprint off two sharp victories at Gulfstream Park going a one-turn mile. Five weeks following a triumphant seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper on January 29, he captured the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile in similar frontrunning fashion. 

Speaker’s Corner made his stakes and two-turn debut in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby in September, finishing a distant sixth. He ran a career-best 109 Beyer in an allowance optional claimer one month later at Belmont Park, which he won by 6 3/4 lengths. His following effort, a second in the nine-furlong Discovery at Aqueduct, prompted his connections to cut back and focus on one-turn races.

“He showed plenty last year. We tried stretching him out, but it wasn’t really what he wanted to do,” said Godolphin bloodstock director Michael Banahan. “We got him back out to one-turn miles and he was impressive in both of those. That’s what it looks like he wants to do.”

A sharp Belmont maiden special weight victory in October 2020 put Speaker’s Corner on the radar, besting subsequent stakes winners Caddo River, Greatest Honour and Miles D. 

Sidelined until the following August, Speaker’s Corner returned to action with vigor when defeating winners by 5 1/4 lengths going seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course. The victory garnered a 101 Beyer – his first of five triple-digit speed figures. 

“We kept having small problems that came up and we had to take our time with him,” Banahan recalled. “When we saw those horses in his maiden do so well, we were excited to see what he could do.”

Speaker’s Corner sports a record of 8-5-1-1 with earnings in excess of $400,000. His dam Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini, is out of 2006 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Round Pond. 

Banahan said Speaker’s Corner has matured.

“He’s a bigger and stronger version of himself,” Banahan said. “Even as a foal and as a yearling, we always liked him on the farm. He’s out of an unraced mare but has a very good pedigree. Once he went to Florida to get pre-trained, he showed plenty of talent. When he was sent to Bill, he said the same, so we were always hopeful of him.”

Banahan also spoke of Speaker’s Corner’s two-time winning stable mate Nostalgic, who is slated to return to New York for the Grade 2, $400,000 Gazelle, which offers 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers. 

The Medaglia d’Oro bay was a 7 3/4-length winner of her career debut in October at Belmont Park followed by a fourth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle on December 4 at the Big A. 

A strong turf work in January at Payson Park gave her connections confidence to try the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant on February 5 at Gulfstream, finishing a distant ninth as the lukewarm favorite. One month later, Nostalgic recaptured her winning form when defeating winners going a two-turn 1 1/16 miles over the Gulfstream main track. 

“We like the distance and the timing of the Gazelle,” Banahan said. “She broke her maiden nicely and ran OK in the Demoiselle, but her last race gave us some encouragement.” 

Godolphin will eye their fifth Gazelle victory following past success with Imperial Gesture [2002], Music Note [2008], Flashing [2009] and Dance Card [2012]. Nostalgic, a Kentucky homebred, is out of the stakes-placed Tapit mare Been Here Before, whose dam Connie Belle is a half-sister to 2006 Wood Memorial winner Bob and John.

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First Captain hopes to set sail in G1 Carter

Four-time winner First Captain is set to make his Grade 1 debut in the $300,000 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets on April 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

First Captain, trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, made a winning seasonal debut in a seven-furlong allowance sprint on February 27 at Gulfstream Park, overtaking five-time winner Doc Amster in the final strides to win by a head. The victory was the 4-year-old son of Curlin’s first start since July 2021, where he suffered his only loss in his sire’s two-turn namesake race at Saratoga. 

First Captain was unbeaten in three starts, all at Belmont Park, prior to the Curlin, making the gradual steps from maiden, to allowance, to graded stakes winner with a 1 3/4-length score in the Grade 3 Dwyer going a one-turn mile at Belmont in July. 

First Captain is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Woodford Racing and celebrity chef Bobby Flay, who bred the chestnut colt. 

“He’s got that one-turn grinding type of style which, generally, is a tough style to win with at Gulfstream, so we were happy that he ran well,” said West Point Thoroughbreds spokesman Jason Blewitt. “The fact that he got up to win, not that it was a surprise, really felt great. We were proud of him to find the finish with such a closing kick. He bounced out if it in really good shape for Shug.”

Although First Captain’s lone two-turn start was not a victorious one, Blewitt said he is hopeful the talented colt will handle extra ground down the road. 

“I’m not totally convinced he doesn’t want to go two turns. Although the Curlin was disappointing out of him, it maybe was a case of a bad trip and he did have a minor ankle issue after that,” Blewitt said. “There’s no denying that his races at Belmont last spring and summer were mighty impressive as well as the seven-eighths win at Gulfstream. It looks pretty black and white on paper that he’s 4-for-4 around one turn, so I’m anxious to see how he’ll stack up in the Carter. It’s a race that has a very rich history.”

A strong effort from First Captain in the Carter could result in a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 11 at Belmont Park. Vekoma is the most recent horse to capture the Carter-Met Mile double in 2020. 

Also under consideration for the Met Mile is undefeated Flightline, who is based in Southern California with trainer John Sadler and is scheduled to have his first breeze since February next month. Flightline is co-owned by West Point Thoroughbreds in partnership with Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, and Woodford Racing.

“Everything would be under consideration,” Blewitt said. “Flightline is doing well out in California and the Met Mile is a definite goal for him. He’s going to be back on the work tab in April and he’s galloping daily. He’s over the hiccup he had about a month ago. The Carter and the Met Mile have always gone hand in hand. It will be interesting to see how First Captain stacks up in the Carter. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to have two horses in the Met Mile.”

Ready A.P., a New York-bred daughter of More Than Ready trained by Christophe Clement, finished a pacesetting third in her 2022 debut. The sophomore filly was a brilliant 8 1/4-length winner on debut at Belmont in July before finishing second in the Rick Violette at Saratoga three weeks later. 

“She bounced out well. We would have liked to come away with the win as well as she ran, but she came out of the race in good shape,” Blewitt said. “Given how well she ran, that was a comeback race where we’d expect her to move forward and come back in a similar spot.”

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Ready A.P. is out of the four-time winning A.P. Indy mare Girlaboutown. She was bought for $125,000 from the Sequel New York consignment at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Select Sale. 

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Haynesfield winner Water’s Edge to target $200K Commentator

Empire Equines’ Water’s Edge will aim for a start in the $200,000 Commentator, a one-turn mile for New York-breds 3-years-old and up at Belmont Park on May 30 after winning his stakes debut in the $100,000 Haynesfield at one-mile for older state-breds on March 20 at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

“He came out of the race good and we’re not sure where we’ll go from here,” trainer David Donk said. “The long-term goal would be the Commentator and we’d ideally like to run him once more in between. We’ll see what the condition book has. I could MTO him in a grass spot or look for an allowance race.” 

The son of Candy Ride has steadily worked his way up to stakes glory, winning or finishing second in each of his eight lifetime starts. Water’s Edge broke his maiden at second asking sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont in July before subsequently earning his first victory against winners in a one-mile allowance in November. 

The 4-year-old colt added blinkers two starts back when he stretched out to win a nine-furlong optional claimer at the Big A on February 10. He cut back to one mile in the Haynesfield and earned a pacesetting victory under Jorge Vargas, Jr., digging in at the top of the stretch and drawing away to a 4 1/4-length victory. 

“I think he’s gotten more professional with the way he was able to draw away from them late,” Donk said of the effort. “The addition of blinkers has been a big improvement for him. Jorge gave him a really good ride and he’s continued to move forward. You love to see that.” 

Donk said it was a team effort to condition Water’s Edge to a stakes victory.

“He had to earn his way. You hope that they go forward and improve a bit and show you they deserve the opportunity,” said Donk. “The timing was right and he deserved the chance. Everyone in the barn has done a great job with him. It’s fun to see him progress and go forward.” 

A homebred for Empire Equines, Water’s Edge is out of the stakes-placed Bluegrass Cat mare Sandra, a half-sister to dual graded stakes-winner and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint runner-up Dust and Diamonds. 

Five-time winner Big Package made his return to the barn in February for Donk, who co-owns the gelding with Sean Carney. The son of Big Brown has a series of works over the Belmont training track, most recently breezing a half-mile in 48.88 seconds on March 15.

The 5-year-old bay has been away from the races since a sixth-place finish in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship on November 27, capping off a 4-year-old campaign that saw him post a 6-for-8 in-the-money record. 

“He was a really nice grass horse last year,” said Donk. “We really don’t have a lot of spots to run him back in. I’m not sure if we’ll run him in an allowance or a stakes, but he’s the other one we look forward to.” 

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Falcone, Jr. well represented on New York Claiming Championship card

Trainer Robert Falcone, Jr. will saddle four contenders on Saturday's lucrative New York Claiming Championship card which features 10 starter stakes worth $620,000, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The New York Claiming Championship is open to horses which have started for a prescribed claiming price in 2021-22. The 10-race series, each named after some of the most popular claiming horses to run at the Big A, features distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 3/8 miles. A total of 93 horses were entered across the 10 races.

Falcone, Jr. will send out Customerexperience [Race 4, $60,000 Sis City], Fast Break [Race 5, $60,000 More To Tell], Answer In [Race 9, $80,000 Caixa Eletronica] and Magnetron [Race 10, $45,000 Dads Caps].

Customerexperience, owned by Falcone, Jr. in partnership with John Grossi's Racing Corp., will exit post 8 under Dylan Davis as the even-money favorite in the Sis City, a one-turn mile for older fillies and mares.

The 5-year-old Cairo Prince grey has been claimed in each of her last six starts, including last out for $62,500 from a fourth-place finish in a one-mile optional-claimer on February 18 at the Big A. The consistent mare has won three of her last five starts.

“She went on a tear for a couple different trainers. We know it was easier competition but she was doing it relatively easily. She still has the '2X' condition so knock on wood, we can do that later and not have to put her up for a tag,” Falcone, Jr. said.

Steep opposition will be provided by Honey Money, who drops in from allowance company, and Daria's Angel, who won the 2019 Sis City and finished second in this event a year ago.

Beast Mode Racing's Fast Break [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche] is listed at 6-1 on the morning line in the More To Tell, a one-turn mile for older horses.

The 6-year-old Uncle Mo gelding, who has been claimed in three of his last four starts, was haltered last out for $25,000 from a pacesetting fifth in a one-mile claimer on February 11 at Aqueduct. The hard-knocking dark bay boasts a career ledger of 16-4-3-4 with purse earnings of $162,140.

A competitive renewal of the More To Tell includes graded-stakes placed Doubly Blessed and stakes winner Tiergan.

Beast Mode Racing’s Answer In is listed as the 3-1 morning line favorite under returning pilot Kendrick Carmouche in the featured $80,000 Caixa Eletronica, a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up.

The 5-year-old Dialed In gelding was claimed for $40,000 out of a winning effort for his former conditioner Brad Cox in December at the Big A. He followed with a close second in a six-furlong optional-claiming sprint at first asking for new connections. 

“He came into the barn well, Brad does an excellent job,” Falcone, Jr. said. “He kept going the right way from there. When we claim a horse, you hope to aim for a race like this. It makes for a real fun race and I’m excited about it. He’s classy and does everything right.”

Answer In will again look to get the better of Zoomer, who he defeated by a neck two starts back in a six-furlong claiming sprint on December 17 at Aqueduct.

Beast Mode Racing's Magnetron [Post 7, Carmouche, 6-1 ML] brings solid recent form to the Dads Caps, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses.

The 7-year-old Take Charge Indy gelding has finished first or second in four of his last five starts, including a one-length win sprinting seven furlongs on March 19 from which he was claimed for $10,000.

Falcone, Jr. has enjoyed success wheeling horses back on short rest this winter at the Big A, including with Kept Waiting who captured the Broadway on February 13 just one week after an allowance score.

“We claimed him and I nominated him. We wanted to see how the race came up and make sure he comes back well. He came out of the race in good shape," Falcone, Jr. said. 

A full field of 12 is led by No Salt, who is listed as the 7-5 morning line favorite with Dylan Davis in the irons.

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Aqueduct Racetrack spring meet Week 1 stakes probables

$150,000 Excelsior

Probable: Commandeer (Jimmy Toner), First Constitution (Todd Pletcher), Forewarned (Uriah St. Lewis), Untreated (Pletcher)

Possible: Empty Tomb (Robert Falcone, Jr.), Locally Owned (Tom Morley)