Nine to Compete in the Carry Back

The 3-year-old sprint scene is really just starting, so the $250,000 Carry Back Stakes could help sort it out. The race has nine entrants, and although Captain Squire is the 2-1 early favorite, four other colts have single-digit odds, which could mean a hotly contested event.

Jeff Mullins, who took Lusty Latin to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), conditions Captain Squire for Robert Bone and Jeff Diener. In his last start on May 27, the colt won the seven furlong Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes (gr. II) Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes (gr. II).

Two other top contenders are Day Trader, from D. Wayne Lukas and Overbrook Farm connections, and World Trade, trained by Neil Howard for William S. Farish, E.J. Hudson, and Diamond A Racing. Day Trader is a son of Phone Trick who won the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs earlier this season. World Trade is a beautifully bred son of Storm Cat out of the dam of Eclipse champion Eliza. The colt appears to be coming to his best form ever after two impressive allowance tallies at Churchill Downs under Day.

The field for the $250,000 Carry Back Stakes, going six furlongs for 3-year-olds:

PP, horse, jockey, weight, odds.
1--Affirm Cat, Tyler Baze, 112, 15-1
2--Kingmaker, C.H. Velasquez, 112, 5-1
3--Captain Squire, Jorge Chavez, 122, 2-1
4--Bog Hunter, Eduardo Nunez, 119, 20-1
5--Handsome Hunk, Rosemary Homeister Jr., 117, 20-1
6--Day Trader, Mike Smith, 119, 3-1
7--World Trade, Pat Day, 117, 5-1
8--Royal Lad, Jerry Bailey, 117, 6-1
9--Friendly Frolic, Ramon Dominguez, 112, 12-1