Aqueduct: Dads Caps controls pace in Carter, holds off Sahara Sky

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Luis Contreras rode a front-runner to victory in a Grade 1 at Aqueduct on Saturday, just not the one most folks thought it would be. He stole the Carter Handicap with 10-1 shot Dads Caps a race after his mount Social Inclusion ran third at 8-5 in the Wood Memorial.

Dads Caps ($23.60) looked like lone speed on paper, but the 4-year-old colt by Discreet Cat was questionable at the distance after squandering clear leads in three lesser stakes at six furlongs on the inner track for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

Not any more. Dads Caps negotiated an opening quarter-mile in a soft 23.58 seconds under mild pressure from Strapping Groom, remained in command after a modest half-mile in 46.56 seconds and sprinted through the late stages to keep Sahara Sky at bay by a length and one-half.

“Rudy told me this horse has a lot of speed early and just try to save horse to the end,” said Contreras. “He did it so easy and was very strong at the end.”

In posting his first win since a second-level allowance on the same track last fall, Dads Caps ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.02 seconds under 114 pounds, earned $300,000 for owner Vincent Scuderi and gave trainer Rudy Rodriguez his first Grade 1 victory.

“We always thought he was a special horse,” said Rodriguez. “We ran him for maiden 60 thousand just to get him eligible for the starter allowance [races]. We never had the opportunity to run him in a starter allowance, but he was improving every time we ran him. We wanted to be on the lead, and I told [Contreras], ‘If you go 23, they’ll have a tough time catching you. We went in 23, and everything worked out perfectly.”

Sahara Sky, who like last year was shipping in after winning the San Carlos at his home base of Santa Anita for Jerry Hollendorfer, raced wide while closer to the pace than usual, and ran on gamely as the high weight at 122 pounds for a second consecutive runner-up finish in the Carter.

Sahara Sky went on to win last year’s Met Mile in a thrilling finish over Cross Traffic.

“He didn’t get much pace and ran out of ground late,” said assistant trainer Dan Ward. “He was giving up eight pounds to the winner, which definitely matters. He ran a great race and we’re really proud of him. We’ll be back for the [Met] Mile.”

Sahara Sky had 3 3/4 lengths on Clearly Now, who broke slowly and edged Golden Ticket for third as a slight favorite at 13-5 over 29-10 second choice Sahara Sky.

Strapping Groom, Central Banker, and Saturday’s Charm completed the order of finish.