Kentucky-bred Doppelganger rallied furiously in the stretch to capture the $300,000 Carter H. (G1) at Aqueduct on Saturday, April 8.
Ridden by jockey Jevian Toledo, Doppelganger benefited from a patient ride from Toledo in the seven-furlong fixture. Swung to the outside by Toledo in the lane, Doppelganger responded gamely and thundered home to defeat Repo Rocks by 1 ¼ lengths. In winning his first stakes event, Doppelganger covered the distance in 1:23.25.
Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm and a $520,000 graduate of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Yearling Showcase, is campaigned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm, and is trained by Brittany Russell. The victory gave his connections a milestone win; it was the first Grade 1 score for his trainer and his jockey.
Trained by Bob Baffert early in his career in Southern California, Doppelganger was transferred to Russell’s care and started his 4-year-old season with consecutive allowance wins at Laurel Park before stepping up in class in the Carter. He could start next in the Metropolitan H. (G1) on Belmont Stakes (G1) day on June 10.
“The fact that we were able to run him in the ‘a other than’ and then he comes back in the ‘two other than’—this horse think he’s on top of the world,” Russell said. “He doesn’t know what races he won when he won at Laurel. He’s just had a lot of confidence and trained well. I’ve been getting feedback in the morning from everyone that he’s getting better and today it showed.”
Toledo, who has been aboard for all three of Doppelganger’s starts this year, said of the milestone win, “It feels awesome. I can’t explain in words. It feels great. Brittany gives me a lot of opportunities, so credit to her for getting the horse ready. Thanks to her for brining me here and keeping me on the horse.”