Gulfstream Park: In Trouble a bit sluggish working for Gotham

The unbeaten colt In Trouble has been training at Palm Meadows this winter, but he is scheduled to head north Wednesday for his 2014 debut in the Grade 3, $500,000 Gotham Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Aqueduct next Saturday. He had his final work for the race Friday morning at Palm Meadows and worked slower than trainer Tony Dutrow desired, officially five furlongs in 1:02.75 while going from the half-mile pole to a furlong past the wire.

“He went a little slow. Last time he went a little fast,” Dutrow said, referring to a five-furlong work in 59.30 seconds Feb. 12. “I talked to the rider about not going quite as fast, but he went a little slow. I was hoping for something a little faster.”

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

In Trouble has had six works at Palm Meadows, beginning Jan. 11. He has not raced since Sept. 29, when he won the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park. He won his only other start, against maidens at Saratoga, on Aug. 10.

One of In Trouble’s main rivals for the Gotham could be another Palm Meadows resident, Surfing U S A, who most recently finished second to Top Billing in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25. Top Billing was scheduled to run Saturday at Gulfstream in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes.

Todd Pletcher, who trains Surfing U S A, said another of his Palm Meadows trainees, Harpoon, was possible for the Gotham. Harpoon was second to stablemate Vinceremos in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 1.