The Carter Handicap (Grade 1)- $400.000 Purse
AQU- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
April 9, 2016

In itself, Visa Vice’s win in the Carter Handicap today was impressive.  Then, you consider the fact that this gelding is nine years old and what he has done is pretty amazing.  Sure, in our virtual world we are seeing horses have success more then normal, but that doesn’t mean we should disregard what he has done.  What I like most about this win today is that he now has at least one win in every season in which he has raced, and he did begin as a two year old.  Only in the last few years has he been winning Grade 1’s, and this victory will be his third Grade 1 title.  He is not losing any speed either, so there is no reason to believe that he will be unable to add to that title.   When Mb Stables claimed him for $25.000 in April 2013, you know that he wasn’t expecting all this!  It is the trainer’s first win in the Carter Handicap, and the same holds true for winning jockey J Talamo.   The time of the win was 1:21.61.  Congratulations to the winners, let’s take a deeper look.

1st- 2- Visa Vice (2/1)- Our eventual race winner from Mb Stables got off to an average start, and would be in the middle of a three-wide battle for third after a quarter mile.   The gritty veteran did well though to never allow Gma Is My Hero to cross over in front of him, and he was able to keep his lane clear for later use.   He kept a steady and graceful stride going until midway into the turn, when J Talamo urged him forward, and the experienced race horse knew exactly what that meant.  He responded much quicker to this message then did Five Star Five, and that is pretty important in determining what might have been the difference between the two of them.  He came on strongly in the stretch, and although Gma Is My Hero did not give way and made him earn it, Visa Vice stepped up and did just that.  Stayed strong all the way to the wire, holding off Five Star Five and a hard charging Wild Spirits as well.   Visa Vice is a nine year old gelding who wins his 14th race out of 62 starts, including a win in every calendar year in which he has raced.   He is an autogen produced by Riggins Racing in Louisiana.  Almost three years ago, Mb Stables claimed him from Night Rider Stables for just $25.000.   He was the oldest horse in the field that day, too, and now all of those who had raced there have been deactivated.  Congrats again!

2nd- 1- Five Star Five (5/1)- Got off to a good start along the rail for Harrell Racing, and would eventually settle midpack about three lengths from the lead.   Maintained this position as they moved into the turn.  Visa Vice had been running alongside him for much of the backstretch, and made the decision sooner to make a bid for the lead.  Due to this Five Star Five became a length behind that one, and would have to follow him through a hole between Gma Is My Hero and Royal Redeemer.  In the stretch, he kept up with Visa Vice, but that length the latter had gained due to an earlier decision to advance proved to be the difference between the two of them.

3rd- 4- Gma Is My Hero (7/2)- The Aer Stables entry was initially the quickest out of the gate, though soon conceded the advantage to Royal Redeemer and assumed the stalking position. He would close in on him during the turn, but perhaps moreso due to the rival’s tiring.  At the top of the stretch, Gma Is My Hero briefly poked a head in front, but Visa Vice had been bearing down on him and quickly assumed the lead for the stretch run.  Gma Is My Hero did not make it easy and put forth a very gallant fight.  Unfortunately for the trainer, in the dying moments he seemed to lose just enough to get passed for second.

4th- 5- Wild Spirits (10/1)- Goes to the back of the pack early, and the Blushing Meadows entry soon finds himself considerably behind the rest of the field on the backstretch to the tune of about four and a half lengths to the next closest competitor.   He would get a little closer towards the end of the backstretch and into the turn, but it would not be until the top of the stretch that he would hit his best stride.  It would be a valiant bid, but the wire would eventually come up too soon for him.

5th- 6- Royal Redeemer (5/2)- Good out of the gate, and would assume the lead after a furlong for his trainer, Maxmillion Farm.  With a length advantage, he would set the opening quarter in :23.01, and lead the field into the turn from the backstretch.  The half would go in :45.91, but on the exit of the turn, he would be caught and quickly found himself in third.  Once passed, he lost interest, and coasted to the wire while not being a factor.

6th- 3- Rule The Roost (9/1)- The defending race champion from Sanny Village was unable to come close to last year’s effort.  Early on, he raced midpack alongside both Visa Vice and Five Star Five about two lengths off the leaders, but when those two began to push forward into the turn, Rule The Roost began to lose contact with them.  The turn was difficult for him, and by the time they hit the top of the stretch, his day was finished.

Track: Fast
Time: :23   :45⁴  1:09¹  1:21³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 1 Paid 17.30
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 1 – 4 Paid 79.70

Scratched: None

Winner, Exacta, and Trifecta Picked by NS

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES