Atras has contenders in the Carter Handicap and Gazelle

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The distance is perhaps farther than he wants to run and the competition is definitely steeper than he’s faced to date, but Chateau is just doing too well not to give Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap a chance.

That’s the sentiment of trainer Rob Atras, who admits he was not initially intending to run Chateau in the Carter, at seven furlongs, following his 3 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap four weeks ago going six furlongs. However, in discussions with owner Michael Dubb, it was determined the 6-year-old gelding is in the best form of his career, and he has run his best races at Aqueduct, where he is 5 for 9.

“This is his last chance to run at Aqueduct,” Atras said. “We don’t know about the seven eighths. We’re not really sure yet. Off his last race, [Dubb] made a good point – maybe it’s worth giving it a shot. I definitely warmed up to the idea over time watching how he came out of his race and his last two works.”

Kendrick Carmouche, who has ridden Chateau to victories in his last two starts, has figured out the horse just wants to roll early, and that’s what he’ll do Saturday.

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“It’s not like we’re going to change tactics,” Atras said.

Chateau is expected to face four rivals in the Carter, led by Mind Control, a multiple Grade 1 winner at Saratoga who has won four stakes at Aqueduct, and Mischevious Alex, who won last year’s Grade 3 Gotham and is 2 for 2 since being moved to trainer Saffie Joseph’s barn.

Shoplifted, a multiple graded stakes-placed runner, and Souper Stonehenge, beaten a head by Zenden in the Pelican Stakes, are also in the Carter field.

Maracuja stretches out in Gazelle

Atras will also be represented in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gazelle for 3-year-old fillies by Maracuja, a daughter of Honor Code who will be stretching out to 1 1/8 miles from a 6 1/2-furlong maiden win on Feb. 21. She will take on seven rivals including Search Results, winner of the Busher Stakes going a mile on March 6, and The Grass Is Blue, winner of the Busanda going 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 24. Both of those fillies are trained by Chad Brown.

It took three attempts for Maracuja to win her maiden. But Atras is okay with that, believing the filly will benefit from the experience and foundation moving forward.

“I didn’t mind that she had a few starts before she put it all together,” Atras said. “The owners, they want to win right away, but sometimes this is the best thing for them. I’ve had some horses win first time out and sometimes they take a few steps back before they go forward again.”

The Gazelle offers its top four finishers qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the Kentucky Oaks on April 30.

Alwayz Late and Mia Martina, both two-time winners on turf, and Song of Innocence, a winner on synthetic, are all trying dirt for the first time in the Gazelle.

Others entered in the Gazelle include Army Wife and Hybrid Eclipse.