Gotham key stepping-stone to racing's big dance
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – At this time of year, college basketball teams on the bubble are in search of a quality win to make the NCAA tournament. Similarly, 3-year-old Thoroughbreds on the cusp of being considered Kentucky Derby candidates are in search of a résumé-building performance.
Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct offers many lightly raced, modestly accomplished 3-year-olds a chance to continue down the Triple Crown trail.
Of the eight horses entered in the Gotham, only Sunny Ridge has won a stakes, having captured the Grade 3 Withers over Aqueduct’s inner track in his last start. To this point, the connections of Sunny Ridge – owner Dennis Drazin and trainer Jason Servis – have said the Derby is not their objective with the New Jersey-bred gelding by Holy Bull.
The Derby is the goal for many of the others, including Shagaf and Rally Cry, who make their stakes and two-turn debuts in the Gotham. The top four finishers earn qualifying points (50-20-10-5) to the Derby.
Shagaf, a son of Bernardini owned by Shadwell Stables – which also owns leading Derby contender Mohaymen – is 2 for 2. He won his debut going a mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 22, racing inside of horses and taking a little bit of dirt for five furlongs before tipping out three wide at the three-eighths pole. In his 3-year-old debut, also at a mile, Shagaf had a dream outside stalking trip, winning a first-level allowance race at Gulfstream by two lengths. Rally Cry, who encountered all kinds of trouble, finished third in that race.
Shagaf is trained by Chad Brown, who said by phone from Florida on Thursday: “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. I can’t fault the horse anywhere.”
In the Gotham, run at 1 1/16 miles around two turns, Shagaf will break from post 2 under Irad Ortiz Jr.
Sunny Ridge won the Withers by three-quarters of a length over Vorticity while making his first start in 10 weeks, following a second-place finish to Exaggerator in the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot. Because of his Withers win, Sunny Ridge carries 123 pounds and concedes seven pounds to each of his rivals.
After finishing fourth to Mohaymen in the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream, Conquest Big E has come north in search of softer opposition and a cooler climate. Adventist finished a respectable third in the Withers after racing greenly early and getting bumped late in his first start around two turns.
Completing the field are Laoban, a maiden who finished third in the Grade 3 Sham; Vincento, a two-time-winning New York-bred; and Mo Power, who was entered back in a first-level allowance race here Sunday.
The Gotham will be race 9 on a 10-race program that has a first post of 12:50 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Shagaf, by Bernardini
Beyers: 78-88
◗ Was able to get in three breezes in two weeks following his allowance win at Gulfstream. He had just four breezes in the nearly 10 weeks between his maiden win and the Gulfstream allowance.
“He does need to take a step forward, and I think he’s capable of it,” Brown said. “He’s training really well. He seemed to get a lot out of his race. I’m excited to get him around two turns. He always acted like he’d prefer two turns; it just took us a while to get him there.”
◗ Figures to sit just off the pace behind Laoban and Rally Cry.
Sunny Ridge, by Holy Bull
Last 3 Beyers: 87-92-86
◗ Though he pressed a slow pace in the Withers, he showed in the Sapling Stakes and, to a lesser degree, the Delta Jackpot that he can be effective from midpack.
◗ His five stakes starts, which include a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Champagne, equal the number stakes starts by the remainder of the field combined.
Rally Cry, by Uncle Mo
Beyers: 71-80-68
◗ Had a brutal trip when third to Shagaf in the Gulfstream allowance race. He was squeezed back early and then forced to steady sharply, losing position and all chance entering the far turn.
◗ Trainer Todd Pletcher said he’s looking forward to getting Rally Cry out around two turns. “I’d imagine he’d be forwardly placed,” he said.