Aqueduct: Samraat and Uncle Sigh clash again in Gotham

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Rick Violette’s first inclination after watching Samraat outduel Uncle Sigh in a hard-fought running of the Grade 3 Withers Stakes on Feb. 1 was to give his undefeated 3-year-old some additional time between races and skip the Gotham.

But seeing how well Samraat has done in the last four weeks has convinced Violette not to wait, and on Monday Samraat was one of 11 horses – along with Uncle Sigh – entered in Saturday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Like the Withers, the Gotham is run at 1 1/16 miles around two turns over the inner track.

The top four finishers in the Gotham earn points (50-20-10-5) toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby in the event the race draws more than 20 entrants.

“He’s doing very good,” said Violette, who trains Samraat for owner-breeder Len Riggio. “We felt getting two [more] races before the Derby was the best way to get there as long as he cooperated and was ready to run.”

Samraat, who dueled slightly off and just outside of Uncle Sigh, drew post 8 and will be coupled with Noble Cornerstone, who is also owned and bred by Riggio but trained by Wesley Ward. Noble Cornerstone comes off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay on Feb. 1. Kent Desormeaux will ride Noble Cornerstone from post 4.

Violette also entered Financial Mogul, who ended his 2-year-old season with a second-place finish behind Cairo Prince in the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes. He began his 3-year-old campaign with a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream, but came out of that race with a lung issue, according to Violette. Financial Mogul has spent the last month at the Fair Hill training center, visiting the hyperbaric chamber while being able to train, uninterrupted, over that facility’s synthetic surface.

“Our lung issue seems to be behind us,” Violette said. “He scoped clean after all three of his works and he’s really trained spectacularly. The one concern is he’s been training on the Tapeta and going to the dirt, but at least we got to train.”

Shaun Bridgmohan has been named to ride Financial Mogul.

Uncle Sigh, who on Monday worked a bullet half-mile in 46.90 seconds over Belmont’s training track, drew post 3 and will have new rider Corey Nakatani in the irons.

Trainer Todd Pletcher entered a trio of runners in the Gotham led by Harpoon, runner-up in the Sam F. Davis last out at Tampa Bay Downs. He drew post 11 and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Pletcher also entered Monopolize (post 5) and Master Lightning (post 10).

In Trouble, undefeated in two starts but unraced since winning the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont last September, returns to the races in this spot and will break from the rail under Joe Rocco Jr.

Harpoon, In Trouble, Monopolize, Samraat, and Noble Cornerstone are all expected to be flown in from south Florida on Wednesday.
Others entered include Deceived, Extrasexyhippzster, and Classic Giacnroll.

◗ Strapping Groom, dominant winter of the Gravesend Handicap, drew the rail and will likely be the odds-on favorite in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Strapping Groom, replacing the injured Junior Alvarado. David Jacobson, who trains Strapping Groom, also sends out Candyman E, who comes off a win in the Grade 3 Toboggan. Others entered include Saturday’s Charm, Dads Caps, Non Stop, and Sensational Slam.

◗ Summer Applause, winner of the Grade 2 Top Flight last year, is back to defend her title in Saturday’s renewal of that $200,000 race for fillies and mares. She will face five rivals that include Teen Pauline, Royal Lahaina, Centring, and Flash Forward.