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Dads Caps defends title in Carter Handicap

Dads Caps is the sixth horse to win back-to-back renewals of the Carter (Chelsea Durand/Adam Coglianese Photography) Dads Caps (Discreet Cat) became the sixth horse in history to win back-to-back renewals of the Carter H. (G1) when prevailing in the historic seven-furlong test, which carried a purse of $400,000, at Aqueduct on Saturday. With the 1 1/2-length score, Vincen Scuderi's homebred joined Audacious (1920-21), Osmand (1928-29), Flying Heels (1930-31), the legendary Forego (1974-75), and Lite the Fuse (1995-96). Saving ground from post 1 and no more than two lengths off the pace set by 53-1 outsider Green Gratto (Here's Zealous), who set splits of :22 3/5 and :46 2/5, Dads Caps was in behind horses turning for home. Jockey Jose Ortiz found an opening, was momentarily stalled after being bumped by Palace (City Zip), but quickly recovered to overtake Green Gratto on the outside and spurted clear to win in a time of 1:23 3/5 over a fast track.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Dads Caps paid $13.40 as the 5-1 fifth choice in a field of eight.

"To win this race back-to-back is amazing," Rodriguez said. "This is a good horse to be around, and we've had him since he was a baby, so it's special. A day like this means a lot to all of us; you work hard, and it pays off. Hopefully, it can just keep coming."

Green Gratto edged 31 longshot Dream Saturday (Any Given Saturday) for second by three-quarters of a length, and it was a neck farther back to 9-5 favorite The Big Beast (Yes It's True). Completing the order of finish were Palace, Wild Dude (Wildcat Heir), Clearly Now (Horse Greeley), and Street Shark (Street Sense).

The two wins in the Carter have been Dads Caps' only stakes wins, but he's placed in nine other stakes, including the Vosburgh (G1) and multiple renewals of the Tom Fool H. (G3) and Toboggan (G3). His record is presently 18-5-7-2,

Bred in Kentucky, Dads Caps was produced by Seeking the Silver (Grindstone), making him a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Paulassilverlining (Ghostzapper).

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