Dutrow Seeks Carter Victory With Petulante

The first Saturday in May will mark an anniversary for trainer Rick Dutrow.

As much as everyone else in Thoroughbred racing associates the day with the Kentucky Derby (G1) for Dutrow there's something different tied to it.

On May 6, 2023, when attention was laser-focused on Churchill Downs and the opening leg of the Triple Crown, Dutrow was at Belmont Park, saddling a horse for the first time in more than 10 years.

Dutrow was back training horses after a 10-year suspension for multiple violations and as he did about 25 percent of the time in the past, he won that comeback race, with a horse he claimed for $45,000 in its previous start.

In the ensuing 11 months, Dutrow has continued winning. His stable has grown from a handful of claimers to a string of about 60 horses based in New York, Kentucky, and California.

His winning percentage may be down at 18% (39 of 215) but those 39 wins include two of the most important stakes in 2023, the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Whitney Stakes (G1) with White Abarrio .

"Things are good. We've picked up some strong people and we're plowing forward," Dutrow said. "People are calling about sending us horses. We're happy. I'm back to being a horse trainer. It's great."

Since his return Dutrow has captured three graded stakes, but he could add to that total April 6 when he sends out Lugamo Racing Stable's Petulante  in the $300,000 Carter Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

A 5-year-old son of Arrogate, Petulante is coming off a half-length loss when third in the March 2 Stymie Stakes. It was his first start in a little more than eight months, when he won the 2023 Salvator Mile (G3) at Monmouth Park for trainer Victor Barboza Jr.

"That was a long break and he came back and ran great on a sloppy track in his first start for us," Dutrow said. "We were thrilled and he came out of it good and looks like a happy horse. "

Petulante will be cutting back to seven furlongs Saturday after racing a one-turn mile in the Stymie.

The historic Carter, downgraded to grade 2 status this year, attracted a field of five that also features Lea Farms' Super Chow , a 4-year-old Lord Nelson colt who exits wins in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3) and Toboggan Stakes (G3) at the Big A, and Hillwood Stable's Post Time , a 4-year-old Maryland-bred Frosted colt who has won three in a row including the General George Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park.

Field of 10 in Bay Shore Stakes

The $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes, the only ungraded stakes among five on the card, drew a field of 10 3-year-old sprinters.

Topping the field is LC Racing, Cash Is King, and trainer Butch Reid's Maximus Meridius , a son of Maximus Mischief   who was fourth in the Gotham Stakes (G3) at a mile, and the Practical Joke   colt Proprietary Trade , a recent maiden winner for trainer Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables.