Mischevious Alex Among 11 Likely Gotham Starters

While the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) brings the Triple Crown trail back to a one-turn distance, the mile test March 7 is attracting plenty of interest.

A field of 11 is taking shape for the stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack that will award a total of 85 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Leading the way is Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex, who was last seen winning the seven-furlong Swale Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park by seven lengths.

The Feb. 1 victory was the second straight romp for the John Servis-trained son of Into Mischief  who breezed to a 9 3/4-length victory in the seven-furlong Parx Juvenile Stakes that closed his 2-year-old campaign.

Gary Barber and Michael Sebastian's Untitled was a troubled fourth in the Swale. The Mark Casse-trained son of Khozan  will enter the Gotham off a second to Triple Crown candidate Gouverneur Morris in a Feb. 14 allowance optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs.

Sagamore Farm and trainer Stanley Hough's Necker Island, who was fifth in the Swale, is also among the probable starters in the one-turn Gotham.

Another interesting candidate from Florida is Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Attachment Rate, who was a convincing 6 1/4-length maiden special weight winner Feb. 15 at Gulfstream Park in his most recent start. Trained by Dale Romans, the son of Hard Spun  was timed in a quick 1:35.03 for a mile on a sloppy track.

Chris Fountoukis' Montauk Traffic will enter the Gotham with the advantage of two strong efforts on the track. Trained by Linda Rice, the son of Cross Traffic  broke his maiden at Aqueduct in his second start and then rallied from seventh to win the seven-furlong Jimmy Winkfield Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths Feb. 8 at the Big A.

Other probable starters include Celtic Striker, First Deputy, Flap Jack, Informative, Sixto, and War Stopper.

The Gotham winner will receive 50 qualifying points toward a starting spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), with 20 points for second, 10 for third, and five for fourth.

Also Saturday, 3-year-old fillies will compete for 85 points toward a spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the $250,000 Busher Invitational.

The Busher, also contested at a one-turn mile, will serve as the 3-year-old debut of Godolphin's Lake Avenue, a homebred daughter of Tapit  who closed her 2019 campaign by giving trainer Bill Mott a victory in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2).

Among the other probable starters are Glass Ceiling, Laura's Light, Maedean, Master of Hope, Panthera Onca, Persisto, and Water White. Mo City is a possibility.

The Busher offers the same 50-20-10-5 distribution of points as the Gotham.

There will be two stakes for older horses Saturday at Aqueduct, highlighted by the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3), in which Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' multiple grade 1 winner Mind Control, trained by Gregg Sacco, is the standout among five probable starters in the six-furlong stakes.

Bon Raison, Happy Farm, Wentz, and Wonderful Light are also on the list of possible starters.

The $125,000 Stymie Stakes attracted six probable starters, led by Diamond King and Joevia, who was third in last year's Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). 

Other likely starters in the mile stakes are American Anthem, Backsideofthemoon, Grumps Little Tots, and Stan the Man, with Mr. Dougie Fresh a possibility.