Gotham Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 3 Gotham Stakes comes our way from Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York this Saturday, March 1. Some of the best three year olds in the land will be after the winner’s share of the $500,000 purse and the 50 qualification points toward the Kentucky Derby when they go 1 1/16 miles on Aqueduct’s main track.

A large field of 11 will line up in the Gotham Stakes – race 9 on Aqueduct’s Saturday card. Post time is 4:17 PM. Let’s take a brief glance into the past performances of all 11 entries for this most important Kentucky Derby Championship Series Grade 3 stakes which also acts as a major prep for the Wood Memorial.

Samraat – Richard Violette trained New York bred colt will try to remain perfect in his career. He has four starts and four wins – last time out over Uncle Sigh in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes here February 1, before that in his stakes debut – the listed Damon Runyon Stakes by an astounding 16 3/4 lengths here December 18, an Allowance score on this track November 22 and a MSW by 3 1/2 lengths score in his debut at Belmont Park in October. Samraat goes off as the 5-2 co-favorite and will have Jose Ortiz in the saddle from post 8. He is a coupled entry along with…

Noble Cornerstone – will race for just the fourth time for trainer Wesley Ward. He is coming off an ugly seventh in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs February 1 after a good second by a neck in the minor Remington Springboard Mile December 15 and a maiden score in his debut at Aqueduct November 3. Noble Cornerstone is also 5-2 on the morning line and will line up in gate 4 with Kent Desormeaux aboard.

Uncle Sigh – another New York bred will race for the fourth time for trainer Gary Contessa – all previous starts coming on this track. He finished a good second behind Samraat in the Grade 3 Withers last time out here February 1 after breaking maiden December 27 by an incredible 14 1/2 lengths and a second in his debut – another MSW December 7. Uncle Sigh will have Corey Nakatani in the reins and will depart from post 3 as the 3-1 second choice.

Extrasexyhippzster – has five career starts for trainer Michael Trombetta with three wins including two minor stakes scores in his last two starts. Last time out was in the minor Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park January 25 after a win in the Dock Rickles Stakes December 21 at Aqueduct. He has been extremely competitive each and every time out, finishing off the board just once so far. Julian Pimentel gets the call from post 9 as the 4-1 third choice.

In Trouble – Anthony Dutrow trained colt has two career starts and two wins – last time out in the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park way back on September 29 after a maiden score in his debut in August. He starts from the rail with Joe Rocco aboard in his first start in five months.

Financial Mogul – is coming off a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream January 25 after a very respectable second in the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct November 3, an OK fourth in the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park September 29 and a MSW score in her second career start. He will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing outing with Shaun Bridgmohan in the saddle at 10-1 odds.

Gotham Stakes betting at Aqueduct Racetrack with OffTrackBetting.com

Harpoon – Todd Pletcher trained colt raced in stakes company for the first time last time out and finished a good second in the Grade 3 Sam F Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs February 1. He also looked good in his four career starts prior to that. He broke maiden by 5 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream December 26 after finishing second in his three previous MSW starts – one of those seconds coming behind the very impressive Cairo Prince. Irad Ortiz will ride from the far outside post at 10-1 odds.

Deceived – has two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in six career starts for trainer Leah Gyarmati but will race in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday. He is coming off an Allowance Optional Claiming score here after a third in the minor Damon Runyon Stakes behind Uncle Sigh on this track December 18 and after breaking maiden here December 7. He has been in the money every time out and hopes to continue that streak with Rajiv Maragh aboard from post 6.

Monopolize – Todd Pletcher pupil races in stakes company for the first time Saturday having recorded just one win in three career starts. Last time out was a sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream Park January 25 after a maiden score here December 21 and a fourth in his debut also on this track November 30. He is 20-1 on the morning line and will have Christopher DeCarlo in the reins from gate 5.

Classic Giacnroll – the most experienced of the entries, his seven career starts produced two wins, two seconds and a third place finish. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes on this track February 1 after a very good third in the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes here January 4, a second in his stakes debut – the minor Marylander Stakes at Laurel Park December 7 and two wins at six furlongs in September. Classic Giacnroll is 20-1 on the morning line and will have Manuel Franco in the saddle.

Master Lightning – Todd Pletcher pupil Master Lightning has seven career starts with two wins and a second place finish. He has a win in a MSW in his second career start and won an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track December 22. His last two starts haven’t been great however – a fourth in the minor Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park January 25 followed a seventh in the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes here January 4. Master Lightning leaves from post 10 with Cornelio Velasquez aboard.

Race 9 on Aqueduct Racetrack’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:17 PM.