Gotham awards top-five finishers 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

The Gotham is one of four stakes slated for Saturday March 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack and will award the top-five finishers 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

Brad Cox, a two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, will have four chances to secure his first Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes score as he sends out Bergen, Just a Touch, Air Cav and Lightline in the one-mile test for sophomores at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, March 2.

The Gotham, which awards 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers, is slated as the final race on the lucrative 10-race program that features an additional three stakes events in the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Handicap in Race 9; Listed $200,000 Busher, a 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifier, in Race 7; and the Listed $150,000 Stymie in Race 8. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

Leading the charge for the Cox cavalry in the 13-horse strong Gotham is Bergen (Spendthrift Farm, Martin Schwartz, Gandharvi, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, James Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich and Mark Parkinson) who captured the local six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield last out on January 27.

The Liam's Map gray aced his stakes debut impressively under returning rider Manny Franco [post 8], who patiently held his charge 1 1/2 lengths off the pace in fourth through the first quarter-mile as El Divino Nino showed the way. Bergen was given his cue at the three-eighths marker and responded with aplomb to steadily make up ground and assume command at the stretch call. He powered home strongly to cross the wire 5 1/4 lengths in front in a final time of 1:12.63.

Cox said he was pleased to see Bergen handle a less-than-ideal cutback in the Winkfield after finishing second in a one-mile November optional claimer at Churchill Downs.

"I was wanting to stretch out to seven-eighths, one-turn mile but just couldn't get the right race to go," said Cox. "I did like the idea after Churchill of bringing him up to New York and having the options of seven-eighths, one-turn mile races for him. We ended up running three-quarters and it worked out, but I do think this is a horse that will be better going a one-turn mile."

Bergen's November effort at Churchill, his only previous outing at one mile, saw him bumped at the start before rallying from 5 3/4 lengths off the pace to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind undefeated dual stakes-winner Who Dey. Bergen graduated on debut in October at Keeneland with a rallying three-quarter-length score when sprinting six furlongs.

Cox added he was satisfied with Bergen's latest workout, a half-mile breeze in 49.65 seconds Friday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

"He's been solid enough in the morning and has been steady since his win in the Winkfield," said Cox. "I'm excited about giving him a little more ground to run over."

Qatar Racing and Marc Detampel's Just a Touch [post 10, Florent Geroux] makes his first start against winners after a dominant graduation on debut on January 27 at Fair Grounds Race Course.

The $300,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase captured the six-furlong sprint in prominent fashion under Florent Geroux and briefly stalked the pace before taking a head advantage at the half-mile call and extended his lead throughout the latter stages. He crossed the wire a 4 1/4-length winner ahead of Gun Party, a well-regarded colt for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen that was purchased for $1.7 million as a yearling.

"He's very athletic," Cox said of Just a Touch. "He's a good-sized colt and done everything right in the mornings and he showed up first time out. It's going to be a big ask shipping him up there, but I like the idea of stretching him out to the one-turn mile. I'm hopeful he can handle that and we'll see how it goes."

Just a Touch has since worked three times at Fair Grounds, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:00.60 Saturday and the same distance in 1:00 flat eight days earlier.

"I was in Saudi, but the work was executed very well," said Cox, who sent out Saudi Crown to a third-place effort in Saturday's Group 1 Saudi Cup. "We've done plenty with him since he broke his maiden and fitness wise we've got him as tight as we can get him. Hopefully that will be enough to show up with a big effort."

The Justify bay is out of the graded stakes-winning Tapit mare Touching Beauty, who has also produced stakes-placed Corps of Discovery. Touching Beauty is a full-sister to graded stakes-placed Tritap and stakes-winner Noisy Feet.

Calumet Farm's Air Cav [post 6, Eric Cancel] will look to rebound from a third-place effort behind Bergen in the Jimmy Winkfield last out. The Mitole chestnut was defeated 12 lengths after giving chase through the early stages and improving to third position at the stretch call, where he stayed through the lane to land his first stakes placing.

Air Cav graduated on debut by a neck over next-out winner Cats by Five in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint in August at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He followed with a distant fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Champagne when stretched out to one mile in October at Belmont at the Big A.

"He's been steady enough in the morning, but he needs to step up and prove that he belongs," said Cox. "He's another one that's pointed for an allowance race here or there that didn't go when he was ready. This is a tough spot for him, but if he steps up and gets a good trip he could be right there. We're hoping he can take a big step forward."

Air Cav worked a half-mile in 48.85 seconds Friday at Belmont in company with Lightline [post 11, Ramon Vazquez], who rounds out the contingent for Cox.

The City of Light Bay, owned by Albaugh Family Stables, earned graded black type last out with a third-place effort in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Withers on February 3 over a muddy and sealed Big A main track. He was jostled at the start and tracked close to the pace in fifth through the first half-mile in 49.49 seconds before dropping back leaving the backstretch and making a four-wide bid for the topflight in the turn. He showed a good turn of foot under Franco but could not reel in the top pair of Uncle Heavy and El Grande O, settling for show honors as he collared Deposition by a half-length.

Cox said he is hopeful there will be a swifter pace in front of Lightline on Saturday with the cutback in distance.

"I would like to think it gives him an opportunity if the race is to collapse to pick up pieces or run them all down," said Cox. "He doesn't have a tremendous amount of early speed, but he's steady enough and he might get the right set up."

Lightline vies for his first win since a 13 3/4-length romp on debut in a one-mile maiden in September at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The $600,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Maria's Mon mare Upperline, who also produced graded stakes-placed Reigning Spirit.

Barry Schwartz's New York homebred El Grande O cuts back to one mile after a narrow runner-up effort to Uncle Heavy when defeated a nose after a prominent trip in the Grade 3 Withers on February 3. Trained by Linda Rice, the talented son of Take Charge Indy is set to make his 11th career outing, making him the most seasoned contender in the field.

"He's not a real big horse. He's a medium-sized horse and he has a great mind," said Rice. "He handles training and racing exceptionally well. We're hoping his experience and ability will stand up in a crowd in the Gotham."

El Grande O seeks his first open company victory after state-bred stakes scores in the seven-furlong Bertram F. Bongard in September and the one-mile Sleepy Hollow in October, both over sealed surfaces at the Big A. He faced his farthest test to date in the Withers, where he also made his first start around two turns.

"He's pretty versatile," Rice said. "We were uncertain of the mile and an eighth, but we thought it was worth a try and I think he ran great.

"Every one of us has Derby dreams. When they will come to fruition, who knows," Rice added, with a laugh. "It's not out of the realm of possibility."

Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount from post 7.

LC Racing, Cash is King and Wellesley Stable's Maximus Meridius [post 2, Mychel Sanchez] makes his stakes debut off a strong open-company optional claiming score sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on January 30 at Parx Racing for trainer Butch Reid, Jr.

The son of the Reid, Jr.-trained Maximus Mischief has made each of his three outings at Parx and was an eye-catching 10 1/2-length winner on debut in a six-furlong maiden tilt in November. He followed with a prominent third-place finish in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer on December 26 where he finished 3 1/2 lengths back of the victorious Frankie's Empire, who exited that effort to win the Swale at Gulfstream Park.

Last out, Maximus Meridius sported blinkers for the first time in the afternoon and vied for early command through an opening quarter-mile in 22.33 seconds over muddy and sealed footing. He assumed command after a half-mile in 46.57 and clocked three-quarters in 1:13.19 en route to a strong 3 1/2-length score in a final time of 1:20.28.

"We added blinkers in his third start. He was having focus problems," said Reid, Jr. "He wasn't paying attention and was waiting for horses to come up on the outside. That second start turned out to be an impressive race given that the winner came back to win the Swale down at Gulfstream Park. It was a legit race for an allowance race at Parx."

Reid, Jr. said he expects Maximus Meridius, who worked a sharp half-mile in 47.68 on Saturday at Parx, to relish added ground as his father did when capturing the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen in 2018.

"His father did it [stretch out] without a problem and the kid who gets on him in the morning thinks he's waiting to go longer," said Reid, Jr. "He galloped out good in the breeze and we're looking forward to the mile stretch out."

Hall Thoroughbreds, Pearl Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds' graded stakes-placed Slider [post 12, Jose Lezcano] ships outside of California for the first time on the heels of a valiant third-place finish in the Grade 2 San Vicente on January 6 at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by John Sadler, the Jimmy Creed chestnut has made each of his five starts at sprint distances, graduating at second asking in a 5 1/2-furlong dirt sprint in September at Del Mar. He followed with a 1 1/4-length victory in the five-furlong Speakeasy over the Santa Anita green and closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Slider kicked off his sophomore campaign with a return to dirt in the seven-furlong San Vicente where he broke a step slow and set the pace through the first half-mile in 45.27 with a slight advantage over Pilot Commander before relinquishing the lead at the stretch call. He kept on gamely down the lane as the victorious Muth swept past him and a battling Pilot Commander and was edged out of place honors by a head to the latter.

"It was his first run off a little freshening after the Breeders' Cup and I thought it was a good first effort," Sadler said. "It's a long year, so it's a good 'first-start-back' race. He got away a little slow and had to work a little hard. Hopefully, we get a good break in New York."

Sadler said he is hopeful Slider can continue to show his usual early speed as he makes his first effort beyond sprint distances.

"We'll find out. He won a little stake on the turf at our fall meet and then it made sense - since we didn't see him as a big distance horse - to keep him short," said Sadler. "The Breeders' Cup race was on the grass and we thought he'd run in there. He ran OK - it didn't go his way. So, we decided going into this year that he's versatile and he'll have a chance on both surfaces this year. I think he can stretch and can make at least a nice middle-distance horse."

Completing the competitive field are the pair of impressive maiden winners Deterministic [post 3, Joel Rosario] and Capital Idea [post 13, Trevor McCarthy] for conditioner Christophe Clement; stakes-placed Khanate [post 1, Jose Gomez], who races with blinkers off, and maiden-winner Eliminate [post 9, Dylan Davis] for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher; and additional maiden winners Facenda [post 4, Abel Cedillo] for trainer Doug O'Neill, and Deposition [post 5, Dexter Haddock] for trainer Uriah St. Lewis.

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Maximus Meridius works for Derby Prep G3 Gotham Stakes

Feb 25 - Trainer Butch Reid, Jr. will send a pair of stakes contenders sired by his former charge Maximus Mischief to New York for Saturday's lucrative Gotham Day card with Maximus Meridius for the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham and Carmelina in the Listed $200,000 Busher, at Aqueduct Racetrack. The talented Maximus Mischief won 3-of-4 starts including a victory in the 2018 Grade 2 Remsen here.

Reid, Jr. has enjoyed tremendous recent form at the Big A, taking stakes in December with Dr B in the Grade 3 Go for Wand and Morning Matcha in the NYSSS Staten Island to go along with a rallying score by Uncle Heavy, who picked up 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points earlier this month in the Grade 3 Withers.

LC Racing, Cash is King and Wellesley Stable's Maximus Meridius has won 2-of-3 starts, and looms a rising star in the Gotham, a one-turn mile for sophomores offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

He worked a half-mile solo Saturday in 47.68 seconds over the Parx Racing dirt.

"He breezed beautifully in 47 and change like breaking sticks. He's ready to go," Reid, Jr. said. "He did it on his own, he tends to get a little keyed up in company."

The talented bay, out of the winning Quiet American mare Quiet Virtue, was bred in Pennsylvania by Westerly Farm. He has made three starts, all in open company at Parx, graduating on debut by 10 1/2-lengths in November sprinting six furlongs.

He followed with a third-place finish in a 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming sprint in December when two-lengths back of Frankie's Empire, who exited that race to win the Swale at Gulfstream Park.

Maximus Meridius lost focus after rushing to the lead midway on the turn of his second start, so Reid, Jr. added blinkers to the colt's repertoire last out and the talented bay responded with a prominent 3 1/2-length score in an optional-claiming sprint on January 30.

Reid, Jr. said the colt came to him via his brother, the retired Pennsylvania Hall of Fame trainer Mark Reid, who is known by the family as `Uncle Heavy.'

"He's been very impressive from the beginning," Reid, Jr. said of Maximus Meridius. "He's a big, strong horse that we found out of a field in Chester County, P.A. at my brother's place. He's been very forward the whole time we've had him."

Mychel Sanchez will retain the mount on Saturday.

Slider Travels East for Grade 3 Gotham

Feb 25 - Grade 2-placed Slider (Hall Racing, Pearl Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds) will likely make his first trip outside of California for the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes, a one-turn mile for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, March 2.

The Gotham is one of four stakes slated for Saturday at the Big A and awards the top-five finishers 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

Trained by John Sadler, Slider posted a sharp five-furlong work in 59 seconds flat this morning at Santa Anita Park. The Jimmy Creed colt looks to make his second start of the year after a good third-place effort in the Grade 2 San Vicente on January 6 at the Arcadia oval.

Sadler said he was pleased with the effort from Slider this morning.

"He worked very well," said Sadler. "He ended up catching a couple horses that broke off in front of him, but for me, it was more about how he galloped out since this will be the furthest he's ever run. If he looks good tomorrow, he gets on a plane early Tuesday to be there Tuesday afternoon to run Saturday."

Sadler added the timing of the Gotham is a good reason to send the colt on the 2,792-mile journey from Santa Anita to Ozone Park.

"The spacing is good from his last race and we like a one-turn mile with him, so there's a lot of things to like for him [in the Gotham]," said Sadler.

Slider has made each of his five outings at sprint distances and has won on both dirt and turf. He graduated at second asking in a 5 1/2-furlong dirt sprint in September at Del Mar ahead of a 1 1/4-length score in the five-furlong Speakeasy over the Santa Anita green. He completed his juvenile campaign with an off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint where he was defeated 3 1/4 lengths en route to his return to dirt in the San Vicente to kick off his sophomore season.

Jose Lezcano, who won last year's Gotham aboard Raise Cain, will pick up the mount on Saturday.

Sadler had also nominated the graded stakes-placed Scatify and the New York-bred Tapalo to the Gotham and said both horses are now aiming for other Kentucky Derby preps.

West Point Thoroughbreds' Scatify was last seen finishing a pacesetting third in the one-mile Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis on February 3 at Santa Anita where he was defeated 8 1/4 lengths to the highly-regarded Nysos and edged out of place honors by Wine Me Up. Scatify made his first start against winners in the Lewis off a determined half-length victory sprinting six-furlongs on debut in December at Los Alamitos.

Sadler said he will consider either the Grade 2 San Felipe on Saturday at Santa Anita or the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 9 - both contested at 1 1/16-miles - for the Justify chestnut.

"He might be looking at the San Felipe or the Tampa Bay Derby," said Sadler. "We were anxious to get him started and he was a little later getting to me than some of the other ones. We were pleasantly happy with his first race, and missed a little time before the Bob Lewis. He wasn't going to beat the winner that day, but I think if things had gone a little differently, he could have been second."

Hronis Racing's Tapalo finished a prominent second last out in the nine-furlong El Camino Real Derby on February 10 at Golden Gate Fields where he was defeated 1 1/4 lengths by Endlessly. The son of Tapiture, bred by Saratoga Glen Farm, graduated at fourth asking in a January maiden optional claiming tilt sprinting seven furlongs at Santa Anita ahead of his first try on synthetic in in the El Camino Real.

Sadler said he is considering the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 23 at Turfway Park for Tapalo.

"Tapalo will probably go to the Jeff Ruby," said Sadler. "That was synthetic at Golden Gate and he ran a really nice race up there. I think he's a developing horse and it was a close race. He's progressing."

G3 Gotham Probables [offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points]

Probable: Bergen (Brad Cox), Capital Idea (Christophe Clement), Deposition (Uriah St. Lewis), Deterministic (Clement), El Grande O (Linda Rice), Eliminate (Todd Pletcher), Facenda (Doug O'Neill), Just a Touch (Cox), Maximus Meridius (Butch Reid, Jr.)

Possible: Air Cav (Cox), Antonio of Venice (Rudy Rodriguez), Khanate [Pletcher), Lightline (Cox), Speed Runner (Pletcher)

El Grande O works for 2024 Gotham Stakes

Feb 23 - El Grande O, a New York-homebred for Barry Schwartz, worked five-eighths in 1:02.91 Thursday over the Belmont Park dirt training track in preparation for next Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham. The one-turn mile for sophomores offers 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Trained by Linda Rice, the Take Charge Indy colt worked in company with recent maiden claiming winner All the Rage.

"They stayed together for a half-mile and then El Grande O took over and went five-eighths and out six furlongs on his own. Just a very modest breeze in 1:02 and 3 and out in 1:15 and 2," Rice said. "He's doing well. We were waiting for a good track and we got a good one yesterday and got a breeze into him. That will be his last breeze before the race."

El Grande O, a half-brother to the graded stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Meal Ticket, is out of the stakes-placed Unbridled's Song mare Rainbow's Song. He has banked $399,000 through a record of 10-3-5-1 topped by state-bred wins here in the seven-furlong Bertram F. Bongard in September and one-mile Sleepy Hollow in October.

El Grande O has made his last two starts here in open company, finishing a prominent second in both the one-mile Jerome after stumbling at the start on January 6 and the nine-furlong Grade 3 Withers on February 3 when defeated a nose to Uncle Heavy.

Rice said the versatile colt, who graduated sprinting five furlongs on the turf in June at Belmont Park, was also under consideration for the 1 1/8-mile Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 6 at the Big A.

"We discussed if we wanted to run in the Gotham or wait for the Wood and decided that as long as the horse was in good shape, we'd go ahead and run him," Rice said. "He's a horse that thrives on racing and he has fitness and experience on his side."

Capital Idea possible for G3 Gotham

Feb 18 - Capital Idea (Reeves Thoroughbred Racing), yet another impressive maiden winner on January 28 here, is also training towards the Gotham.

"If we believe they both have a chance, they will both run," Clement said.

Capital Idea, by Classic Empire, romped to an 8 1/4-length score in a one-turn mile maiden tilt over sloppy and sealed footing. With Trevor McCarthy at the helm from the inside post, Capital Idea tracked in third position before angling four-wide through the turn to take the lead at the three-sixteenths and draw clear in a final time of 1:40.42. The comfortable score garnered an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

Capital Idea breezed five-eighths in 1:02.90 Friday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

"He's doing well. If he works well next week, we'll go for the Gotham," Clement said. "He's getting more mature and better. It's the right time of the year. He's learning his job."

The $260,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is out of the stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Rever de Vous, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Dreaming of Drew.

Just a Touch & Bergen among Cox-trained hopefuls for Gotham (G3)

Feb 15 - Trainer Brad Cox could be represented by as many as four contenders in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 2 at the Big A, a one-turn mile for sophomores offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Topping the list for Cox are Qatar Racing and Marc DeTampel's impressive maiden winner Just a Touch along with Bergen, winner of the Jimmy Winkfield here, who is owned by Spendthrift Farm, Martin Schwartz, Gandharvi, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, James Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich and Mark Parkinson. Also under consideration for the Gotham are Albaugh Family Stables' Lightline and Calumet Farm's Air Cav.

Just a Touch, by Justify and out of the graded stakes-winning Tapit mare Touching Beauty, earned a lofty 89 Beyer Speed Figure in his 4 1/4-length debut score in a six-furlong maiden special weight over sloppy and sealed footing on January 27 at Fair Grounds.

Cox said the $300,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase ran to his looks on debut.

"He's a really good physical - plenty of leg and good bone. He's really light on his feet, a good mover and a good work horse," Cox said. "Based off pedigree and physical, I feel pretty confident he's going to stretch. I like the idea of the one-turn mile with him.

"He's going from maiden to a graded stakes, so it's going to be deep waters for him and he's going to have to improve," added Cox. "The talent is there and he has a good mind. I'm hopeful he can have a good second half of February and first part of March and we can give him an opportunity to show that he's on the Derby trail."

Bergen, by Liam's Map, was a debut winner traveling six furlongs in October at Keeneland before overcoming a troubled start to finish a rallying second in a one-turn mile in November at Churchill Downs.

Last out, Bergen grabbed a quarter in the six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield, but still dominated by 5 1/4-lengths on January 27 over a muddy and sealed Big A main track. He breezed back a sharp half-mile in 47.53 seconds on February 10 over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

"He's been back to the track and is doing great. He'll breeze again this weekend and start on our preparations for the Gotham," Cox said.

The $375,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, a half-brother to Grade 1-winner Chi Town Lady, is out of the stakes-placed Harlan's Holiday mare Toni's Hollyday.

Air Cav, by Mitole, finished third in the Jimmy Winkfield - 12 lengths back of Bergen - while making his first start since a distant fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Champagne in October at Belmont at the Big A.

Cox said Air Cav, who graduated on debut in August at Horseshoe Indianapolis, could get a second chance against his stablemate in the Gotham.

"We're going to nominate him and let him tell us. He did bounce out of the Jimmy Winkfield in good order," Cox said.

Lightline, by City of Light, finished third last out in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Withers over muddy and sealed footing on February 3 here.

The $600,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase won first out in September at Horseshoe Indianapolis ahead of runner-up efforts in October at Keeneland and in December at Oaklawn Park.

Cox said Lightline will be considered for both the Gotham and the 1 1/8-mile Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 6 at the Big A, offering 100-50-25-15-10 points towards the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby.

"We may go straight to the Wood," Cox said. "There's other options out there as well, but right now the Gotham would be the race that comes up soonest for him. We'll let him tell us over the next week or two if that's something he wants to do."