Handicapping the Gotham Stakes

Laurie

Ashley

Laoban (Uncle Mo - Chattertown, by Speightstown) is still a maiden after three attempts. The Eric Guillot trainee ran a surprisingly good race in the Sham Stakes. He was four wide the entire way and finished third by 2 ¾ lengths. Laoban’s distaff family is sprint oriented. Laoban has a very awkward, heavy gait. He didn’t speed up in the stretch of the Sham so much as inherit the spot due to tired horses. I don’t think the extra distance will do him any favors. Pass.

Laoban—Eric Guillot has become the wise guy of the racing world, and I distinctly remember not paying much attention to Moreno once upon a time. We all remember how that worked out. So Laoban is still a maiden? Considering how wide he was parked throughout the Sham Stakes, he can only stand to improve here, and the rail post will certainly help him save some ground. I like the series of 6 furlong works he has had. Additionally, Uncle Mo babies have been doing well, and I think Laoban just could pick up a minor check as this isn't a particular strong bunch. Exotics.

Shagaf (Bernardini - Muhaawara, by Unbridled's Song) won his two career starts by a combined eight lengths and beat fellow Gotham entrant Rally Cry by 4 ¼ lengths in an allowance race at Gulfstream. His stakes winning dam is a half to the Graded Stakes routing veteran Eldaafer. Second dam Habibti is a multiple G1 winner. Conditioned by Chad Brown, Shagaf will prefer extra distance. He gets a class check, but should give a good account of his abilities against this field. Contender.

Shagaf—has been the buzz horse over the fall and winter and has so far done nothing to disprove the hype. After beginning his career at Aqueduct, he then shipped to Gulfstream for career race and win #2. In the attempt to avoid MOHAYMEN, Chad Brown has brought this son of Bernardini back north hoping to pick up some Derby points. As Laurie pointed out, this colt has a nice pedigree for when the distances get longer. Contender.

Adventist (Any Given Saturday - Sharp Minister, by Deputy Minister) was very unprofessional in the Withers Stakes. He was rank early, blew the first turn, raced wide the entire way, ducked in slightly on Flexibility, and lost focus in the stretch, running with his head up. I don’t think the blinkers are doing him any favors. On a positive note, Adventist is well-bred, should enjoy the extra distance, and the offspring of Any Given Saturday improve with age. Adventist worked a pre-race bullet. He has plenty of natural talent and if he could settle down, the colt could be a serious racehorse. Let’s hope he learned from the last race. Exotics.

Adventist—Despite how greenly he raced in the Withers, Adventist still managed to give a good accounting of himself. Hopefully he and jockey Kendrick Carmouche learned something in that race and will apply it here. He certainly can only improve off that last start. Exotics contender.

Vincento (Include - Seeking the Silver, by Grindstone) finished 9 ¼ lengths behind state-bred stakes horses last time out. Not a positive note going against Graded Stakes company. Pass.

Vincento—is a half to Grade 1 winning sprinter DADS CAPS and Grade 2 winning sprinter PAULASSILVERLINING. He regressed in his last outing, which was against state-breds nonetheless. I'm not really seeing any positives in here. Pass.

Mo Power (Uncle Mo - Rhiana, by Runaway Groom) is a last out maiden winner from Todd Pletcher’s barn. The son of top sire Uncle Mo is a half to Lexington Stakes winner Behindatthebar and the dam is a multiple Graded Stakes placed veteran. Mo Power’s speed figures aren’t spectacular. Maybe he can improve for a minor award. Toss. SCRATCHED

Mo Power—Graduated in his second career start after getting an increase in distance from his debut. He got the win going a mile but his speed figure dropped. As an Uncle Mo baby, I want to like him, but there are others that I like more. Pass. SCRATCHED

Conquest Big E (Tapit - Seeinsbelieven, by Carson City) faced a daunting task in his first start of the year, facing Mohaymen in the Holy Bull Stakes. The son of Tapit had no impact on the race and finished fourth, nine lengths behind the best 3YO in the east. The softer company in the Gotham should suit him. Exotics contender.

Conquest Big E—has better start doing a rain dance now because so far, his only wins have come on sloppy tracks. After facing Mohaymen in his 2016 bow, he gets softer company here, but I don't think the softer competition will make up for his lack of a fast track affinity. Pass.

Sunny Ridge (Holy Bull - Lignum Vitae, by Songandaprayer) is the favorite in the Gotham after his tenacious victory in the Withers Stakes. He’s the most experienced colt in the field and has finished out of the money only once in his career. Contender.

Sunny Ridge—His Withers win was not flashy in terms of looks or time, but a win is a win. He showed tenacity, which is something I always like to see. He is obviously the one to beat here, despite being tabbed as the 7-2 morning line second choice. Contender.

Rally Cry (Uncle Mo - Alienated, by Gone West) is the other Pletcher/Uncle Mo contender. The colt is a half to multiple Graded Stakes winner Alienation. Rally Cry had a troubled trip when facing winners in his last at Gulfstream, and I’m inclined to toss that effort. He had a nice speed figure against maidens and if Rally Cry can run back to that figure, he could be competitive. The last Pletcher horse to win the Gotham was Stay Thirsty in 2011. The last Pletcher horse to ship from Gulfstream and win was Cowtown Cat in ’07. Exotics contender.

Rally Cry—Yes, he did encounter trouble when finishing third to Shagaf in his last outing, but I don't think he would really have threatened for the win with a clean trip. Having drawn the outside post, he will likely have a much better trip than last time. However, I like others here more than him. Pass.