Sunny Ridge returning in Gotham

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sunny Ridge, who made a successful 3-year-old debut in winning the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 30, will make his next start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes here on March 5, trainer Jason Servis said Monday.

“I kind of thought it might be a little softer than the Wood,” Servis said when asked about choosing the Gotham as opposed to waiting for the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial on April 9. “We’ll go from there.”

Sunny Ridge, a New Jersey-bred gelding by Holy Bull, put himself in the conversation for the Kentucky Derby with his three-quarter-length victory over Vorticity in the Withers, which followed his narrow loss in the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot. However, his connections have not set the Derby as their primary objective.

Servis reiterated that owner Dennis Drazin “isn’t that hellbent on the Derby,” but Servis said he would like to let Sunny Ridge’s performance on the racetrack dictate the gelding’s schedule.

“If he takes us there, he takes us there,” said Servis, who mentioned the possibility of running in the Gotham and the Wood Memorial, then waiting for the Preakness on May 21.

Sunny Ridge has remained at Belmont Park since his victory in the Withers. On Monday, Sunny Ridge was credited with a half-mile work in 52.88 seconds. Servis doesn’t typically work his horses fast, if at all. He said Sunny Ridge likely will gallop into the Gotham, with perhaps another slow work at the end of an open gallop about 10 days out from the race.

“I don’t think he needs much,” Servis said. “Just trying to get out of his way.”

Matt King Coal, a possible Gotham contender, worked six furlongs in 1:17.60 on Monday over the Belmont training track. It was his second work since returning to training following a respiratory issue.

“The track is not exactly what we want, so we wanted to be a little cautious, go further and slower and get one in before the rain,” trainer Linda Rice said. “The Gotham’s an option. I don’t know that we’ll make it, but we’re making an attempt.”