Kentucky Derby 2018 trail: Enticed rebounds, wins Gotham

Enticed enjoyed a cutback to the one-turn mile in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes, chasing down Old Time Revival to win at Aqueduct and punch his ticket to the 2018 Kentucky Derby.

Stuck on the rail last out, Enticed failed to fire in the Grade 2 Holy Bull. But trainer Kiaran McLaughlin didn’t give up on a colt who last November emerged as a leader in the division by taking the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs.

At odds of 3-1, he reunited with jockey Junior Alvarado and stalked the pace en route to a 2 3/4-length win in New York.

"It worked out great," said McLaughlin, who added that the Grade 2 Wood Memorial back at Aqueduct is likely next. "Junior rode a great race. The 'clean-faced' plan worked out well. It was a great run and everything went perfect."

Old Time Revival, at 35-1 the longest shot in the field, looked poised to win before slowing dramatically in the final furlong. He held on for second over Free Drop Billy. Multiple stakes winner Firenze Fire was fourth in the field of nine.

"If he belongs, we'll have enough points to get there," said Dale Romans, who trains the previous Grade 1 winner Free Drop Billy. "Right now, that should be enough. He still has to come back and run well next time. I think he ran a clean trip. There was some good things to see, but I wanted him to win. I thought he would win."

A son of Medaglia d’Oro, Enticed collected 50 qualifying points toward a start on the first Saturday in May. Old Time Revival and Free Drop Billy may need a few more than 20, while Firenze Fire can consider himself a contender.