How to bet with, and against, Speaker's Corner in the Carter Handicap

An excellent field of eight will travel seven furlongs on the Aqueduct dirt in Saturday’s $300,000 Carter H. (G1). The red-hot #8 Speaker’s Corner (8-5) has been ultra-impressive in leading throughout in both the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) and Fred Hooper S. (G3) this campaign, and the Bill Mott pupil is a deserving favorite from the outside draw.

The 124-pound highweight has big early presence but has proven to be capable of winning from off the pace too, making the four-year-old son of Street Sense a dangerous commodity anytime he steps on the racetrack. The lightly raced Godolphin homebred is 2-for-2 at the distance, and he also ran well in his lone prior try on the surface when runner-up in the Discovery S. in November.

Speaker’s Corner continues to train well and will be forcing the action from the start in a field lacking multiple forwardly placed types. Regular rider Junior Alvarado will be in the silks atop the impressive colt.

The once-beaten #5 First Captain (8-1) commenced his four-year-old season with a smart allowance triumph at Gulfstream Park for Shug McGaughey. By Curlin, the $1.5 million purchase is 4-for-4 in one-turn performances, and the imposing chestnut will move forward in his second try of 2022. If the Kentucky-bred receives a beneficial pace scenario to work with, then I believe that the colt will be hard to hold off late beneath Jose Ortiz.

Stronach Stables homebred #2 Green Light Go (9-2) has been a new animal since adding blinkers three back, and the son of Hard Spun might be the one to catch turning for home on Saturday. The five-year-old has ripped off a pair of facile tallies in succession at one mile on the course, and I think that he will benefit from the cut back in trip in this spot. Dylan Davis will ride the fleet bay.

The two-time Grade 1 placed #1 Reinvestment Risk (4-1) was a swift and professional allowance victor at Gulfstream in his four-year-old debut for Chad Brown. The Upstart colt earned a hefty 99 Brisnet Speed figure for his work, and any improvement will make him a serious threat from the rail. Manny Franco inherits the ride.

Dual Grade 1 winner #4 Mind Control (7-2), who was second in the race last campaign, and sharp Pelican S. victor #3 Bank on Shea (15-1) will also be on some of my vertical exotics tickets.

Speaker’s Corner – With

• $3 superfecta 8 with 1,2,5 with 1,2,5 with 1,2,3,4,5 ($54)

Speaker’s Corner – Against

• $2 trifecta key 5 with 1,2,3,4,8 ($40)
• $1 superfecta 5 with 8 with 1,2,3,4 with all ($20)