The New York division of three-year-olds is finally picking up a little in this year’s running of the Gotham Stakes. With a handful of runners shipping north from Florida and a few more coming out of allowance and statebred competition, the field has a hastily put together feel that I can actually appreciate.
One of my last trips to Aqueduct was for the 2017 running of the Gotham, when J Boys Echo upset El Areeb before getting crushed on the Triple Crown trail. It may not be the most valuable Derby prep in March, but it has a place in my upbringing, and that has to count for something. Let’s get into it.
Aqueduct, Race 10
Gotham Stakes (G3) for Three-Year-Olds, One Mile on the Dirt
Post Time: 5:27 p.m. EST
1- Runninsonofagun
He’s more than a maiden claimer for sure, but how much more? His performance in an optional claiming event at Aqueduct last time out can only tell us so much, as it was a sprint race against a weak field. He was only marginally better than that group with a perfect trip and I don’t see him improving enough.
2- Glider
This colt didn’t have much of a chance taking down front runner Emmanuel, the likely favorite in the G2 Fountain of Youth today, after a 25-second opening quarter last time out in an optional claiming event. But he did give him a run on the turn in an effort that appeared competitive. He’s an outsider, but I’m a little interested.
3- Golden Code
Well, he did what he was supposed to do against a maiden field at Aqueduct. A 10 ¾-length victory is obviously an encouraging sign for trainer Todd Pletcher, but the field was extremely weak too. The runner-up finisher Relate was the only one to challenge him at all and he finished fifth at 4-5 odds next time out. Maybe he’s one to keep an eye on for now.
4- Fromanothamutha
Though he lost his first four maiden tries, Ray Handal demonstrated that he thought highly of this colt when he entered him in the G2 Remsen anyway. He got smoked that day, but the point is that the owner and trainer thought to take a shot. The colt has since come back and won in maiden competition and steps right back into a stakes race. He earned his first win with a clear early lead against an overmatched field, however, which does affect my opinion of him.
5- Dean’s List
This is the first runner in this field that I respect. With two starts under his belt at Gulfstream, he has managed to show a lot in a short period of time. In his maiden victory in December, he dueled on the outside through some blistering opening fractions but had plenty to spare in an impressive 5 ½- length victory. Then, in an optional claiming event last time out, he took the lead on the rail but was challenged multiple times, most notably by Dean Delivers, who will run in the G2 Fountain of Youth today. The pair fought for the entire length of the stretch, but this colt dug in to win by a neck. The third-place runner in that race, In Due Time, came back to win an allowance with a 92 BSF and will also be running in the FoY. There are a few in this race that have found the front in the past, but few of them appear as fast as this one. Watch out.
6- Life Is Great
After finally breaking his maiden on the fifth try in November, he made two ungraded stakes attempts and has appeared competent in both. That being said, he was clearly bested by fellow runner Morello last time out in the Jimmy Winkfield and I don’t see a compelling case for improvement. He has a chance at a minor prize.
7- Noneedtoworry
It’s nice to see the Parx shipper sticking around after finishing fifth at 50-1 odds in the G3 Withers. I would keep him running here too under those circumstances. But that race was dominated by a front running favorite and it seemed like the also-rans were picking up the pieces from the back of the pack.
8- Bold Journey
After an emphatic maiden victory in December, I can’t really explain how this colt blew it in the Gander Stakes last time out. He was in front by five lengths in the stretch but completely caved to competent runner Barese and had to settle for second. It was his first attempt at a route distance, and Bill Mott’s confident placement for his next start is encouraging, so I’m willing to excuse him for a certain lack of fortitude. My only concern is that there will be a lot of speed to contend with in this one.
9- Morello
After taking nearly two months off, this colt returned in the Jimmy Winkfield and looked very strong, winning by five lengths over fellow runner Life Is Great. There isn’t much to knock; he hasn’t run a step out of place in two starts and seems to fit very well here. Maybe the distance will pose a new challenge, but Steve Asmussen knows his runners. I’m not a fan of obvious wagers, but he’s clearly a contender.
10- Rockefeller
He has all the trappings of a successful Baffert three-year-old, but he simply hasn’t stepped forward yet. He last raced on New Years in the G3 Sham and finished second to Newgrange, but he never appeared to challenge the winner that day. His only stakes success thus far has come when he shipped to Belmont and took down a very soft field in the G3 Nashua back in November. Maybe the two-month layoff has done something for his condition, but I can’t bet on Baffert odds without a proven horse representing him.
Order: 5 9 8 10
Dean’s List has a distance test ahead of him in this one, but I’m taking him on top because of the sheer quality of his two victories in Florida. He should be near the front in this one early and I’m betting that he’ll be around late. Morello seemed very solid in two victories in New York, but he feels like more of an also-ran than the outright winner. Maybe he wins it by six, but he just seems a little too solid, if that makes sense. Bold Journey is an interesting runner coming out of statebred competition, and though he fell apart in the Jimmy Winkfield last time out, starts like that sometimes put some wind into horses in future outings. Rockefeller is the obvious class in the field and could very easily take this one by open lengths. But the odds on the Baffert colt will not be long enough for a worthwhile wager on an unproven Derby contender.