The first Gotham Stakes took place in 1953 at Jamaica Racetrack. Starting in 1960 the Gotham has taken place at Aqueduct. The Gotham Stakes has been run at various distances over the years, from a mile to its current distance of a mile and a sixteenth. It was also run at a mile and seventy yards twice since 1953. I Want Revenge is the current record holder at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth with a time of 1:42.65. The great Easy Goer holds the record at a mile with a time of 1:32.40. How did the Gotham Stakes gets its name? The great city of New York was often called Gotham back in the day.
2 Champion Boy 30/1 - Champion Boy is still a maiden. He will be making his third career start in the Gotham. Champion Boy ran an even race in the Withers, where he finished in fifth place-five lengths behind Revolutionary. He draws the rail, and a big step forward will be needed to have an impact. Juan Carlos-Guerrero trains. Eddie Castro rides.
3 Escapefromreality 6/1 - The New York bred Escapefromreality is coming off a big race in the Withers, where he just missed beating the highly regarded Revolutionary. He led late, but Revolutionary would not be denied. Escapefromreality has very run well in all three career starts. He draws a favorable inside post. He has worked twice since the Withers. Dominick Schettino trains. David Cohen picks up the mount for the Gotham.
4 Ore Pass 12/1 - Ore Pass ships in from Maryland for trainer Michael Trombetta. Ore Pass is a California bred by War Pass. Ore Pass is coming off a small stakes win at Laurel in the Frank Whitley on January 19. Ore Pass has been working steadily at Fair Hill in preparation for the Gotham Stakes. Ore Pass has a running style that should benefit him in the Gotham. The veteran Julian Pimentel makes the trip north to ride.
5 Amerigo Vespucci 20/1 - Amerigo Vespucci also raced in the Withers, where he finished an admirable fourth place behind Revolutionary. Amerigo Vespucci ran with blinkers for the first time in the Withers. Amerigo Vespucci will also be shipping in from Maryland for trainer Timmy Tullock, where he has had two sharp works since the Withers. Erick Rodriguez has ridden Amerigo Vespucci in all six career starts, and will be back again Saturday.
1 Transparent 8/1 - Transparent is the first half of the Darley Entry trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. Transparent was a $750,000 son of Bernardini who broke his maiden in his sixth attempt in his last race. Transparent will be making his fourth start into his current form cycle. Transparent has shown he likes to run close to the lead. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr sticks with Transparent over stablemate Now and Then.
1A Now and Then 8/1 - Now and Then broke his maiden in his first career start on January 19 on Aqueduct’s Inner track. Now and Then will be trying deeper water here in the Gotham. Now and Then was a $375,000 son of Tiznow. He ran a solid race in his debut leading throughout most of it. Junior Alvarado will have the mount in the Gotham. Now and Then has been breezing nicely over Belmont’s training track.
6 Siete de Oros 15/1 - Siete de Oros is coming off a second place finish to Vyjack in the Jerome and a third place finish to Revolutionary in the Withers, where he led in both races until the final stages. Siete de Oros set the pace in both of those races, but in his races at Philadelphia Park he has shown the ability to rate. Siete de Oros is the bargain of the race, he was only a $2000 purchase. So far he has gone on to earn $138,950. He is a Pennsylvania bred son of A.P. Warrior. Angel Arroyo who has ridden Siete de Oros in the past has the mount back for the Gotham.
7 Vyjack 3/1 - Vyjack will be looking to stay undefeated when he enters the starting gate on Saturday. Vyjack is undefeated in three career starts. He will be stretching out to the distance of a mile and a sixteenth for the first time. He will be making his first start since winning the Jerome back on January 3. Joel Rosario will replace Cornelio Velasquez in the saddle. Vyjack has been working well at Aqueduct. Rudy Rodriguez trains Vyjack. On a side note, Vyjack’s owner David Wilkenfield was the sole winner of a 3.3 million Pick 6 ticket in 2008 at Santa Anita Park. That’s a score!
8 Elnaawi 8/1 - Elnaawi gives Kiaran McLaughlin his third starter in the Gotham. Elnaawi is owned by Shadwell Stable. He was a $500,000 purchase. He is a son of Street Sense. This will be Elnaawi’s third career start, and this will be his first career start on a fast dirt track, if the track is in fact fast at post-time. He was a run-a-way winner on January 13. He will add blinkers for this. Channing Hill will be in the saddle.
9 Sky Captain 8/1 - John Oxley’s Sky Captain ships up from Gulfstream Park to run in the Gotham. Sky Captain will be making his third start into his current form cycle. Sky Captain is coming off a good second place finish to Cerro (Ire) in a $75,000 Allowance Optional Claimer at a mile and an eighth on January 26. Sky Captain has had three breezes at Palm Meadows since his last start. Sky Captain is one of two horses in the Gotham to have run past the distance of a mile and a sixteenth-the other is Overanalyze. If Sky Captain takes another step forward in his progression on Saturday, he could have a significant impact. Mark Casse trains. Miguel Mena will ride.
10 West Hills Giant 20/1 - New York bred West Hills Giant will add blinkers for the Gotham. West Hills Giant is going to be making his second start into his current form cycle, coming off a third place finish in the Java Gold at six furlongs at Aqueduct on February 10. West Hills Giant has had one breeze over Belmont’s training track since his last race. John Terranova trains. Jose Espinoza will get the mount.
11 Overanalyze 5/2 - Overanalyze will be the probable post-time favorite breaking from the far outside. Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher won the Gotham with Stay Thirsty in 2011. Overanalyze will be making his first start since winning the Remsen last November. Overanalyze is a two time Grade II Stakes winner. Overanalyze has been working well at Palm Meadows. Todd Pletcher’s go to guy will be in the saddle-John Velasquez.
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