Side Road subs for Consortium in Gotham

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had been hoping the Gotham would give Godolphin Racing’s Consortium a chance to rebound from his last-place finish behind Algorithms in the Grade 3 Holy Bull. But the Bernardini colt came back from a Monday workout with a chip in his right ankle that will require surgery, sidelining him until the summer.

In his stead, McLaughlin will be saddling Darley Stable’s Side Road, a four-length maiden winner going a mile at the Big A on January 28 in his fourth career start. After finishing fifth in his debut at Belmont, the Street Cry colt was third and fourth in two subsequent starts at Aqueduct.

“He’s a big, improving horse and we hope he steps up to the plate,” said McLaughlin’s assistant, Art Magnuson. “He’s an improving animal who’s been training well.”