Gotham Stakes Offers 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby Points To Top-Four Finishers

A competitive field of 10 sophomores will assemble for Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Gotham, which offers 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, closes out the lucrative 10-race card which also includes the $250,000 Busher Invitational, a one-turn mile for sophomore fillies offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points in Race 9. The Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap for older horses going six furlongs will kick off the stakes action in Race 3.

The Gotham has been won by racing legends Jaipur [1962], Dr. Fager [1967], Secretariat [1973] and Easy Goer - whose Aqueduct track record for one mile in 1:32.40 from the 1989 Gotham remains intact.

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher will seek a third Gotham coup when sending out Dean's List and Golden Code for their respective stakes debuts.

By champion-producing sire Speightstown, Dean's List will see some added ground for Saturday's engagement, arriving off two six-furlong victories at Gulfstream Park.

Following a decisive 5 1/2-length win on December 11, Dean's List had to earn his next-out triumph against winners four weeks later, battling gamely to the inside of subsequent graded stakes-placed Dean Delivers to win by a neck. The third-place finisher in that event, In Due Time, garnered a 92 Beyer Speed Figure in winning an optional-claimer next up at Gulfstream and is entered in Saturday's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

"It came up a key race and he fought off a tough challenge there and showed some gameness. He outran them the first time but showed some fight in the second one," said Pletcher, who previously won the Gotham with Cowtown Cat [2007] and Stay Thirsty [2011]. "I like the way he's been training and he's put in some gallop outs that suggest he is going to be able to handle a stretch out in distance - that's what we're trying to find out here and I feel the one-turn mile is a good way to do it and gradually stretch him out a little bit."

Bred by co-owner WinStar Farm, who owns Dean's List in partnership with Siena Farm, Dean's List is out of the multiple stakes-winning Distorted Humor mare Mildly Offensive.

Manny Franco will pick up the mount aboard Dean's List from post 5.

Calumet Farm's Golden Code will try to solidify a last out runaway maiden triumph going seven furlongs against fellow New York-breds. Bred by Barry R. Ostrager, the son of Honor Code was never in doubt at second asking, gliding home to a 10 3/4-length victory on February 5 at the Big A. This winning effort came after a distant second to fellow Gotham aspirant Bold Journey on December 18 over the same surface.

"Visually, it was an impressive performance," Pletcher said of Golden Code's maiden triumph. "He had trained well for his debut and thought he would improve with added distance in his second start, which he did. We're interested to see how he handles the step up in class. Hopefully, he continues to improve. We're pleased with the way he's coming up to it."

Kendrick Carmouche, who piloted Mischevious Alex to a Gotham score in 2020, will return to the irons from post 3.

"We'll let them both run their own style, but Dean's List coming out of the six-furlong race I think would be a significant pace factor in the race," Pletcher said.

Two contenders will bear the colors of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds with Morello [post 9, Jose Lezcano] and Fromanothamutha [post 4, Dylan Davis].

Morello, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, has won both of his starts by open lengths, most recently capturing the seven-furlong Jimmy Winkfield on February 6 at the Big A. The son of Classic Empire won his stakes debut by five lengths, building on a 4 1/4-length maiden triumph on November 27 at Aqueduct. He is owned by Blue Lion Thoroughbreds in partnership with Craig Taylor and Victoria Taylor.

"Morello looks like he could potentially be something special," Dave Lyon of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds said. "I think it's just a perfect race set up for a horse like him, where you're going to take your time and see what he can do. Past the wire, it looks like he can get further out there. Seeing him calm in the winner's circle tells me he has more left in the tank."

Fromanothamutha boasts a field-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure, garnered from a maiden victory on January 13 at sixth asking. The Unified colt kept salty company through the maiden ranks, finishing behind subsequent stakes winners Mo Donegal, My Prankster and Chattalot. One start prior to his maiden conquest, trainer Ray Handal ran Fromanothamutha in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen in December, where he finished seventh behind Mo Donegal and highly-regarded Zandon.

"Even before when we ran in the Remsen, we thought he was a one-turn type of horse and we took a shot in there for logical reasons," said Handal, who co-owns Fromanothamutha with Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor, and Peter M. Rinato. "He ran second to Mo Donegal in his previous race. But who knew the Remsen would produce two of the favorites on the Kentucky Derby trail? We freshened him up after that race and I saw they had the seven-eighths maiden in the book. I thought it would be perfect for him, and he ran huge. The one-turn mile is probably his best distance. Just like his sire Unified, he's fast and has that speed sustained for a distance.

"He's been super durable and a high quality runner," Lyon added. "He may not be able to get far, but he'll be dangerous in here."

Grade 3 Nashua winner Rockefeller returns to New York by way of Southern California. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Rockefeller was a wire-to-wire winner of the one-turn mile Nashua in November at Belmont Park two months before finishing second to stablemate Newgrange in the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita.

A son of Medaglia d'Oro, who sired 2018 Gotham winner Enticed, Rockefeller is out of the Grade 1-winning Speightstown mare Dance to Bristol and was bought for $750,000 out of the Mill Ridge Sales consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is owned by Starlight Racing, SF Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Catherine Donovan, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Woods Edge Stable and Siena Farm.

Trevor McCarthy, aboard last year's winner Weyburn, will attempt to be the first jockey since Ramon Dominguez [2011-12] to secure back-to-back Gotham triumphs when piloting Rockefeller from post 10.

Hall of Famer Mark Casse will be represented by D.J. Stable's Glider, who cuts back to one turn for the first time while seeking his first victory over dirt. The son of Quality Road graduated at second asking over the all-weather surface on January 6 at Gulfstream Park before finishing second to the highly-regarded Emmanuel in a first-level Tampa Bay allowance event on January 30.

Return rider Antonio Gallardo will ship to the Big A to pilot Glider from post 2.

Hall of Famer Bill Mott will send out Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, Team Penney Racing and Seidman Stables' New York-bred Bold Journey for his open company debut. The son of Hard Spun, and half-brother to Grade 1-winner Americanrevolution, was victorious at second asking when capturing a six-furlong maiden by 6 3/4 lengths on December 18 at the Big A. Bold Journey enters off a second place finish as the favorite in the Gander on February 12 at Aqueduct.

Bold Journey was bred in the Empire State by Fred W. Hertrich and John D. Fielding and is out of the Super Saver mare Polly Freeze.

Jorge Vargas, Jr. will pick up the mount from post 8.

After two stakes-placings, E.V. Racing Stable's Life Is Great will try stakes company once more for trainer Robert Klesaris. Following a seven-furlong maiden victory on November 20 at the Big A, the Tapiture dark bay finished third in the Heft on December 26 at Laurel Park before completing the exacta behind Morello in the Jimmy Winkfield.

Life Is Great will be ridden by Eric Cancel from post 6.

Completing the field are two-time winners Runninsonofagun [post 1, Jalon Samuel] and Noneedtoworry [post 7, Silvestre Gonzalez], who adds blinkers.

The Gotham is slated as the finale on Saturday's 10-race program on Saturday. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

Glider ready to take flight in Gotham Stakes

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said D.J. Stable's Glider will make his next start on March 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a one-turn mile for sophomores offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

By Quality Road and out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Yellow Boat, the $200,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is a half-brother to the multiple graded stakes winning turf sprinter Fast Boat.

Glider graduated at second asking in a one mile and 70 yard off-the-turf maiden special weight on January 6 at Gulfstream Park and followed with a runner-up effort to the well-regarded Todd Pletcher-trainee Emmanuel in a one mile and 40 yard optional-claimer on January 30 at Tampa Bay Downs.

"I thought his last race was pretty good on dirt. I think the mile should suit him nice," Casse said. "I'm still trying to figure out exactly what he wants. His last race was pretty good. There wasn't much pace in the race and I think Todd thinks a lot of his horse. We thought the Gotham would be a good spot."

Glider has worked steadily at Palm Meadows, including a five-eighths breeze in 1:00.30 on February 19.

"He's trained better coming out of the race than he went into it," Casse said.

Antonio Gallardo will retain the mount aboard Glider.

$300K Grade 3 Gotham [50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifier]

Probable: Dean's List (Todd Pletcher), Fromanothamutha (Ray Handal), Glider (Mark Casse), Golden Code (Todd Pletcher), Morello (Steve Asmussen), Noneedtoworry (Herold Whylie)

Possible: Bold Journey (Bill Mott)

Morello and Fromanothamutha Eyeing Gotham Stakes

Dave Lyon of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds is beginning to experience a high level thrill of ownership with Morello and Fromanothamutha, who are slated to make their next start in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The one-turn mile Gotham offers 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

Owned by Blue Lion Thoroughbreds in partnership with Craig Taylor and Victoria Taylor, Morello was victorious in his stakes debut in last Sunday's seven-furlong Jimmy Winkfield, winning by five lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

The son of Classic Empire maintained stalking position down the backstretch and was hand ridden by Jose Lezcano through the final furlong, recording an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. The victory built on a 4 1/4-length debut win sprinting six furlongs in November at the Big A, defeating next out winner Inevtabl Conection.

"We thought it was a logical next step," Lyon said of the Gotham. "His breeding doesn't say sprinting and seeing him gallop out was impressive. It Iooked like he had a lot left in the tank and we're excited to see what he can do next. I don't think we've seen his best yet. Jose didn't really touch him, so we're pretty excited about how he's headed next."

Lyon said he named the chestnut colt after Tom Morello, the lead guitarist for Rage Against the Machine.

"We'll see how far Morello takes us," Lyon said. "I had this named reserved for quite some time and wanted make sure it was something special."

Golden Code possible for G3 Gotham

A runaway state-bred maiden victory last Saturday from Calumet Farm's Golden Code has his connections pondering a start in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the bay son of Honor Code never relinquished through the seven-furlong journey over a muddy Big A main track, gliding home a 10 3/4-length winner under Kendrick Carmouche. The impressive win followed a runner-up debut effort in December to Bold Journey, who finished second as the favorite in Saturday's Gander.

"He's possible for the Gotham if he trains well enough for it," said Pletcher's Belmont-based assistant Byron Hughes said. "He's always trained well. I don't think we expected him to win that impressively last out. We thought he could win that race, but he exceeded expectations."

Bred in New York by Barry R. Ostrager, Golden Code is out of the stakes-winning Banker's Gold mare Jb's Golden Regret. He was purchased for $95,000 out of the 2019 Keeneland November Sale.

On Saturday, Hughes saddled debut maiden winner Best Idea for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable. The son of Honor Code, bred in New York by Joanne Nielsen, recorded an 85 Beyer, romping to victory by 5 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong state-bred maiden special weight.

Best Idea had trained into his debut with Pletcher's winter division at Palm Beach Downs.

"He was training well in Florida and came up here in good shape," Hughes said. "He's bred to go longer, so I assume we'll be stretching him out in the near future. We'll see what's in the book."

Don Alberto Stable's First Constitution, who recorded a 100 Beyer when capturing the Jazil in January, shipped to Palm Beach Downs, where he breezed a half-mile in 49.60 seconds on Saturday. The Chilean-bred son of Constitution was initially under consideration for the $100,000 Stymie on February 26, but Pletcher will likely be represented in the one-turn mile by Wertheimer and Frere homebred Waxman.

Waxman, a 4-year-old son of Empire Maker, was last seen defeating winners going nine furlongs on January 9 at the Big A. He worked a half-mile in 48.80 Saturday over the Belmont dirt training track.

"He breezed well. He's doing well and we're happy with his training," Hughes said.

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