Road to the Derby: Gotham Stakes Analysis

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. read more

On the Derby Trail: Saturday, March 6, 2021

What better way to unwind from a chaotic writing schedule than to write for fun? After several months of fervent sports coverage for The Fordham Observer, I recently managed to find a sliver of time this weekend to return to Paddy’s Picks. In the span of one hour this evening, three prep races for the Kentucky Derby will be run at three different tracks across the country, and I’ve taken the time to analyze all three.