The Big Beast (Yes It's True), winner of last summer's GI King's Bishop S. at Saratoga, gets the nod as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Saturday's GI Carter H. at the Big A.
The 'TDN Rising Star,' owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a measured allowance tally going six furlongs at Oaklawn Mar. 1.
“Physically, he's about the same way as he was last summer, but mentally he has matured and become more focused and understands his job now,” trainer Tony Dutrow commented. “He has been training very good coming into this race. He had a very good workout over the inner [track] the other day [five furlongs in 1:00 Mar. 28], and we trained him over the main [track] and he went over it remarkably well, so we're ready.”
Clearly Now (Horse Greeley) makes his first attempt since a puzzling eighth-place finish as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Forego S. at Saratoga Aug. 30. The dark bay previously posted a breakthrough win when defeating Palace (City Zip) by 6 1/4 lengths in the GIII Belmont Sprint Championship S. July 5, good for a gaudy 113 Beyer.
“He's in good order and has been training very well,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “It's not easy having to come back in a Grade I race, but when you have a horse of his capability there's really not that many races that he's eligible for. We couldn't be happier with where he's at heading in.”
After capturing Saratoga's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. Aug. 2 and GI Forego S. Aug. 30, Palace closed out the term with a third-place finish in Belmont's GI Vosburgh S. Sept. 27 and a sixth-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 1. He is three-for-three over the main track here.
Wild Dude (Wildcat Heir), trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, invades from California following a win in the GII San Carlos S. Mar. 7. Carter defending champ Dads Caps (Discreet Cat) has gone winless in eight subsequent attempts, including a last out second in the GIII Tom Fool H. Mar. 7.
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