Economic Model penciled in for Carter Handicap

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Economic Model, winner of the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 24, could move into Grade 1 company for his next start, which might come in the $400,000 Carter Handicap on April 7 at Aqueduct, trainer Chad Brown said.

“I think I might cut him back to something at seven furlongs, maybe try the Carter,” Brown said at the Palm Meadows training center. “That’s option number one right now. But I don’t know for certain yet.”

The Hal’s Hope is a one-turn mile, and Economic Model won the race by 1 3/4 lengths after stalking the early pace. The win was his second straight, fifth in 14 lifetime starts, and first in a graded stakes. Economic Model, 5, is by Flatter.

If Economic Model does go to the Carter, he may again have to face Irish War Cry, the Hal’s Hope runner-up. Graham Motion, who trains Irish War Cry, said that was the likely next spot for Irish War Cry, who was returning from a five-month layoff in the Hal’s Hope.

Irish War Cry, now age 4, won his lone start at Aqueduct, the Grade 2 Wood Memorial last April. That was his last win. He was 10th in last year’s Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont Stakes. Irish War Cry, by Curlin, has won 4 of 10 lifetime starts.

Brown said the unbeaten 3-year-old Mask, who recently missed significant training time and is out of consideration for the Kentucky Derby, should be ready to return to the work tab in about a week.

“After he works a couple of times, I’ll have a better idea of his fitness,” said Brown, who added that the Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 14 or the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs are likely options.

Mask won the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 6. He has worked once since, at Palm Meadows on Jan. 20.

– additional reporting by Marty McGee