The Big Beast Looms Large in $400,000 Carter Handicap

The Big Beast has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 for trainer Anthony Dutrow. Purchased for $150,000 as a juvenile, he has won four of his six starts and won the King’s Bishop (G1) as a sophomore last year. He returned in March off of a seven-month layoff and won an allowance race at Oaklawn Park. He has had two consecutive bullet workouts since then and will have Javier Castellano back aboard from post position three.

Wild Dude heads to the East Coast for Hollendorfer

Second choice at 3-1 on the morning line is Wild Dude, a West Coast invader for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. A five-year-old son of Wildcat Heir, he has won five of his twelve career starts and is a two-time graded stakes winner. He was last seen winning the San Carlos (G2) at Santa Anita over a field of six rivals. He will be getting a jockey change to Irad Ortiz, Jr. and they are scheduled to break from post position seven.

Dads Caps trying to defend Carter crown

Also in the field at morning line odds of 7-2 is Dads Caps, the winner of the 2014 edition of the Carter Handicap (G1). Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, the five-year-old son of Discreet Cat has won four of his seventeen starts though has gone winless since his Carter victory a year ago. He has been second in both starts this year against graded stakes competition. Regular rider Jose Ortiz will be in the irons from the inside post.