Wall Street Wonder points to Carter

OZONE PARK, N.Y. Wall Street Wonder, a neck victor over Custom for Carlos in Saturday's Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes, will be pointed to the Grade 1 Carter on April 3, assistant trainer Tonja Terranova said.

"That's the goal," said Terranova, who oversees her husband John's New York string while he's in south Florida. "He looks real good. Right now that's the game plan."

Wall Street Wonder has reeled off three consecutive victories at six furlongs over the inner track. The Carter is run at seven furlongs on the main track.

"I don't think it'll be a problem," Terranova said. "He can rate off a horse, it's just that that he's been breaking so sharply. I think there's a little bit more left in there with him."

Wall Street Wonder, who earned a 109 Beyer when he won the Paumonok in January, earned a 99 for Saturday's effort.

Castaneda unlikely for Bay Shore

Castaneda's upset victory in Saturday's $65,000 Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes was his third start in 24 days, which is why trainer Gary Contessa appears inclined to skip the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes here on April 3 with the New York-bred gelding.

"I ran him three times in a very short period, so I'm thinking of giving him a month or six weeks before I find another race for him," Contessa said Monday. "He's a New York-bred, so maybe I can find a two-other-than" allowance.

Castaneda won the Capossela by three lengths in front-running fashion, running six furlongs in 1:10.48 and earning a 90 Beyer.

Additionally, Contessa is hoping to bring Eightyfiveinafifty back to the races in the Bay Shore, a seven-furlong race, and wouldn't want to run the two speed horses against each other.

Understatement eyes Excelsior

Understatement will get his next chance to prove he is more than an inner-track specialist when he makes his next start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Excelsior Stakes on April 3.

Understatement made it 4 for 4 over the inner track Sunday with a 3 1/2-length victory over National Pride in the $65,000 Stymie Stakes. Understatement not only showed the ability to get 1 1/8 miles in the Stymie, but he showed that he can be equally as effective from a stalking position as he has been on the lead.

"He was very responsive yesterday," Jonathan Thomas, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, said Monday. "He waited on cues, did everything very professional. He always showed us a lot of ability, but he really showed the professionalism part yesterday. He put it all together."

Understatement earned a 105 Beyer for the Stymie, down a bit from the 115 he earned in winning the Evening Attire on Jan. 16, but nevertheless his third consecutive triple-digit Beyer.

Among Understatement's rivals in the Excelsior could be Ironman Jon, who successfully stretched out from six furlongs to two turns, winning a first-level New York-bred allowance by 13 1/4 lengths. He ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:42.53 and earned a 95 Beyer.

Trainer Mike Hushion said physical issues kept Ironman Jon away from the races until this year, his 4-year-old season, when he won a maiden sprint race by five lengths before coming back Sunday with another big effort. Hushion trains Ironman Jon, a son of Mineshaft, for owner-breeder Barry Schwartz.

"He was always at the top of our list as the most talented horse around," Hushion said. "If he comes out of the race good, I think we'll probably try the Excelsior with him."