Aqueduct accelerates post times because of Saturday rain

With rain said to be certain, the New York Racing Association announced Friday night it would accelerate post times for the Gotham Stakes card Saturday at Aqueduct.

The first post still will be at 12:20 p.m. EST, but the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham was moved up 15 minutes and will be run as the 5:21 p.m. finale. That feature is worth 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby points for the top five finishers, making it a virtual win-and-you’re-in qualifier.

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Times for three other stakes also were changed. The Busher, a 50-25-15-10-5 points race for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), was moved to 4:01 p.m. The Stymie was shifted to 4:34 p.m. The Tom Fool Handicap (G3) was rescheduled for 5:06 p.m. EST.

New York had a 100 percent chance of rain forecast for Saturday. The National Weather Service said it a half to three-quarters of an inch would fall until perhaps Sunday at 1 a.m. EST.

Just a Touch, one of the four horses entered by trainer Brad Cox into the 13-horse field, was made the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Gotham, a one-turn mile. His only previous race, a 4 1/4-length win in a six-furlong sprint Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, came on a sloppy track.