2014 Kentucky Derby: Gotham Questions

 

With a total of 85 Road to the Kentucky Derby points on the line in the Gotham Stakes (G3), there are plenty of questions to answer. A field of 11 is entered to run on the Aqueduct inner track for the third stop on the New York Trail to the Derby.

 

 

The Gotham is shaping up to be a classic battle of front running horses and those that like to come off the pace.  Although the most successful running style in the Kentucky Derby is from well off the pace, at Aqueduct it is usually a good idea to be close to the lead.

 

Samraat and Uncle Sigh renew their rivalry after running first and second all the way around inner track in the Withers. Back in February the two speedy New York-breds beat a field of six by 10 lengths. In the Gotham Deceived, Extrasexyhippzter, and Master Lightning like to run on or near the lead.

 

Coming from off the pace will be Harpoon, who ran a very big race to finish a nose behind the winner in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay. The undefeated In Trouble has won both of his races from a stalking position, including a victory in the Futurity (G2) at Belmont Park. In Trouble will be making his 2014 debut in the Gotham and trainer Tony Dutrow says he is ready, "He's excellent. He's really, really happy. I feel the horse is ready to give us what he's got Saturday."

 

Financial Mogul, Noble Cornerstone, Classic Giacnroll, and Monopolize have also shown a liking to run behind the early pacesetters.

 

If you want to get a better picture of the running styles of the main contenders, here are video links to their last performances.

 

 

 

Seven of the 11 starters have already run on the Aqueduct inner track and six of them have at least one win there. Four of the horses are New York-breds including the 5-2 morning line favored coupled entry of Samraat and Noble Cornerstone, who share the owner and breeder [My Meadowview Farm] and sire [Noble Causeway]. The rest of the field consists of two Pennsylvania-breds and five from the farms in Kentucky.

 

 

The always dangerous Todd Pletcher has three horses entered in the Gotham that have unusually high odds for the six-time Eclipse award winning trainer. Harpoon is, what seems like an unrealistic, 10-1 on the morning line and runs for the Let’s Go Stable of Verrazano fame. Master Lightning is listed at 20-1 and has been training here in New York over the winter. Monopolize is a $500,000 yearling who runs for the Repole Stable. There has been mention that he may be scratched for a different spot.

 

Here is Pletcher’s take on his contenders, "Normally I wouldn't like the outside draw [for Harpoon] but after his last race from post position 1, I would say it's a good post position for him. We're hoping Master Lightning shows up with his 'A' game. He's shown in the past he's capable but he's been a bit erratic. This would be a good time for him to show up."