Wall Street Wonder had to work hard for his money in the $98,000 Toboggan Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday, but in the end, the Florida-bred colt emerged with his first graded stakes victory, besting a game Custom for Carlos by a neck.
Wall Street Wonder, a son of Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds stallion City Place, battled with Custom for Carlos every step of the way in the six-furlong test, finishing in 1:09.88.
Breaking sharply from the No. 4 post under jockey Channing Hill, Wall Street Wonder vied for the early lead with Custom for Carlos, who started from the rail under Julien Leparoux. Custom for Carlos had his head in front of Wall Street Wonder for most of the early going, carving out fractions of 22.76 seconds for a quarter of a mile and 45.78 seconds for a half-mile.
The two runners raced side-by-side around the turn to set up a hard-fought stretch duel. Wall Street Wonder put his head in front at the top of the lane before Custom for Carlos dug in and briefly regained a slim advantage. Wall Street Wonder then re-rallied in the final half-furlong to win his third consecutive race for owner Stetson Stables and trainer John Terranova.
“He’s the kind of horse who will keep his head in front,” Hill said of Wall Street Wonder. “Today, he got a real class test with Custom for Carlos, and he passed.”
Wall Street Wonder, bred by Reddick’s Richard E. Wilson, returned $4.70, $2.60 and $2.10 as the favorite in a field of five 3-year-olds and up. Custom for Carlos paid $2.60 and $2.10 after finishing five lengths ahead of Driven by Success, who returned $2.50 to show. Elusive Warning and Crimson Comic completed the order of finish.
Wall Street Wonder, a $325,000 purchase at Barretts as a juvenile in March 2008, improved to 3-for-3 on Aqueduct’s inner dirt track, with each of those races covering six furlongs. He began his winning streak with a two-length score in a $45,000 allowance in December and earned his first stakes victory in January in the $65,000 Paumonok Stakes. Wall Street Wonder earned a career-best 109 Beyer Speed Figure in the Paumonok.
“He’d been training super,” said assistant trainer Tonja Terranova. “He showed no ill effects from running so fast last time. Once he breezed last week and went tremendously, we knew that we’d run him. He has a tendency sometimes to wait on horses. I know in the last one he drew clear. Custom for Carlos is a very nice horse, and he’s been battle-tested. This was a very big effort on our horse’s part, and we’re really proud of him. The Carter (Grade 1, seven furlongs on April 3) is the goal now.”
Wall Street Wonder has won four of his 13 starts for $216,341.
Custom for Carlos entered the Toboggan off victories in the $58,000 Bet on Sunshine Handicap at Churchill Downs in November and the Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park in January. The 4-year-old son of More Than Ready has won five of his 12 starts for $370,630.
“He ran his race,” said trainer Eddie Kenneally. “We’re happy with the way he performed. There are a few races coming up in the Midwest we’ll focus on, but we won’t make any decision now.”
–E-mail Nick Fortuna at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Coglianese Photo
