Wudda U Think Now possible for Carter
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Coming off a pair of dominant, fast victories, the New York-bred Wudda U Think Now could make his next start in the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap on April 9, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said Wednesday.
“I don’t know who is going to come, but I think he deserves a chance,” Rodriguez said.
Wudda U Think Now, a 5-year-old son of Fast Anna, won the Hollie Hughes for New York-breds last Saturday by 4 1/4 lengths. Last month, he won an open-company second-level allowance by 10 1/2 lengths. He earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in each race.
Wudda U Think Now has won 3 of 4 starts since a last-place finish in the John Morrissey Stakes last July at Saratoga. Rodriguez said Wudda U Think Now “bled a trace” in the Morrissey, and Rodriguez gave him 30 days off before resuming training.
Wudda U Think Now returned to the track for a jog Wednesday, and Rodriguez said, “He looks very good.”
Rodriguez won the 2014 and 2015 Carter with Dads Caps, a horse who went winless in eight starts in between.
“He’s a lot bigger and stronger than Dads Caps,” Rodriguez said. “Dads Caps was a little thicker, but a lot smaller. This guy is like a tank.”
Meanwhile, Rodriguez said he is pointing the 3-year-old Doctor Jeff to the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes on that same April 9 card. Doctor Jeff hasn’t run since winning the Atlantic Beach Stakes on turf on Nov. 5.
Doctor Jeff, a son of Street Boss, went 1 for 2 on dirt last year, winning an off-the-turf maiden race at Belmont in July before running fifth behind High Oak in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.
On Wednesday, Doctor Jeff worked a half-mile in 49.46 seconds over the Belmont training track. He worked outside of the 3-year-old maiden winner Sundaeswithsandy and briefly tried to savage that horse in the stretch of the work.