5 Abr. USA. Carter H. G1. Aqueduct. 7f. Dirt. 300.000 $
1.- BUSTIN STONES (E.Prado)
2.- EXECUTIVE FLEET (C.Lopez)
3.- PREMIUM WINE (A.Garcia)


Roddy Valente’s homebred Bustin Stones set a pressured pace and edged away to a half-length win in the $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1) on Saturday at Aqueduct to remain undefeated in six career starts.

Sent off as the 2.75-to-1 second choice in the ten-horse field, Bustin Stones maintained a head lead through an opening quarter in :22.52 and a half-mile in :45.14 with Executive Fleet pressing the pace from the outside.

Turning for home, Bustin Stones dug in resolutely along the inside under jockey Edgar Prado and the four-year-old City Zip colt gamely held off Executive Fleet after a prolonged stretch duel. Bustin Stones completed seven furlongs in 1:22.91 on a track rated as fast.

“He never gave up and tried hard all the way,” Prado said. “I was just very proud of him. Speed has been holding pretty well, and that was to our advantage. He just did everything so easily.”

Executive Fleet finished a neck in front of third-place finisher Premium Wine. Donn Handicap (G1) winner Spring At Last, sent off as the 6-to-5 favorite, never threatened and finished eighth.

Trainer Bruce Levine said Bustin Stones will be pointed to the $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap (G1), a one-mile race on May 26 at Belmont Park.

“My schedule was to run him here and in the Met Mile,” Levine said. “I think he can stretch out.”

Bustin Stones, who is out of the winning Prospectors Gamble mare Shesasurething, entered the Carter Handicap off a win in the General George Handicap (G2) on February 18 at Laurel Park. He opened the year with a victory in the Promonroe Stakes on January 21 at Aqueduct. Bustin Stones boosted his earnings to $480,150.