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

Speaker's Corner wins the Gulfstream Park Mile (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

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.