The $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct could be a scorcher, with a field of 10 entered and nine lining up to go one mile on the main track.
Scorching will be a scratch according to his trainer. The colt was originally my top pick.
The Gotham is a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race, with 50-25-15-10-5 points awarded toward entry in the 2025 Run for the Roses.
The Linda Rice trained Sand Devil is the 9-5 morning line favorite, The son of Violence is coming off a victory in the New York bred Damon Runyon at seven furlongs. His regular rider Jose Lezcano will be in the irons.
Trainer Brad Cox sends out a pair of runners, Sacrosanct (3-1) and Flood Zone (12-1). Sacrosanct is undefeated in four career starts including a win in the state bred Sleepy Hollow at today’s one turn mile distance.
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There are three supporting stakes on an outstanding card at the Big A on Saturday. The fourth race is the $175,000 Tom Fool (G3) at six furlongs. The sixth race is the $150,000 Stymie at one mile for four-year-olds and upward which drew a field of eight.
The seventh race is the $200,000 Busher at one mile for three-year-old fillies. The race is a Road to the Kentucky Oaks points race with 50-25-15-10-5 points up for grabs.
Let’s head out to Aqueduct for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Aqueduct Race 9 The Gotham Stakes (G3) Post time 4:18 ET
4 Sacrosanct 3-1
5 Sand Devil 9-5
10 My Mitole 15-1
Sacrosanct
There are no real knocks on this Brad Cox trainee who is perfect in four career starts. Three of those wins have come over the main track here including the state bred Sleepy Hollow two back at today’s one turn mile distance.
Last out he won a New Yor Stallion series race by a head over National identity, who was beaten just a neck in his next start in the state bred Damon Runyon. Quick works on the morning tab and while the 3-1 morning line looks fair enough, it seems likely he is going to end up lighter with the scratch of Scorching, who was going to be my top pick.
Sand Devil
The Linda Rice trainee set moderate early fractions, got headed and battled back to win the Damon Runyon by a neck over national identity at seven furlongs. He won at a mile two back beating state bred Alw-1 optional claimers by more than a dozen lengths.
His last pair of speed figs are tops in here. He gets more pressure early here but at least he did show in his debut he does not need the lead. A logical contender but a short price.
