Betting the Gotham Stakes on a Budget
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Classy Class (above) has a chance to post an upset in the Gotham Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct and he figures to provide very nice odds, too. (Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photo)
A stakes race named for New York City, the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes is not only the final local prep for the Wood Memorial Stakes, but it’s also an official points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby
The 1 1/16-mile race is worth 50 points to the victor and then 20 for second, 10 points for third and 5 for a fourth-place finish.
Let’s take a quick looks at a few horses I like in this race.
Front-runner Classy Class just might live up to his name for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who is winning at 29% this meet. There has been a big speed bias at this distance at this meet — 76% winners on the pace or just off the early leaders. Classy Class hit the board in his last two races, both stakes, and looks eligible to improve here.
Zayat Stables’ morning-line favorite El Kabeir looks the best on paper. He’s stakes-placed in each of his last four races, with a pair of stakes victories, and has the best speed figures, but El Kabeir offers no value. He is a must-use in my exactas/trifectas.
EL KABEIR WINNING JEROME STAKES IN JANUARY
Photo by Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Lieutenant Colonel ships up from Gulfstream for trainer Chad Brown (who is having a solid meet at Aqueduct) off a debut win in which he showed determination by holding on to win by a head. He’s taking a big jump in class in this race, but he looks like a promising three-year-old.
Blame Jim is the standout of trainer Todd Pletcher’s three entries. He figures to improve in his second start off the layoff, and I can’t leave him off trifectas.
Vick’s Picks: #3 Classy Class, #5 El Kabeir, #4 Lieutenant Colonel, #1X Blame Jim
Betting Strategies on a Budget
Strategy A — $20 to win on Classy Class (#3) = $20
Strategy B — $3 exacta box: Classy Class (#3), Lieutenant Colonel (#4), El Kabier (#5) = $18
Strategy C — $5 trifecta: 3,4 with 4,5 with 1,5 (Classy Class, Lieutenant Colonel with Lieutenant Colonel, El Kabier with Blame Jim, El Kabier)
May the horse be with you and the odds in your favor … happy gambling!
$400,000 Gotham StakesSaturday, Aqueduct, Race 9, 4:50 p.m. ET1 1/16 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds
PP
Program #
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
M/L Odds
1
2
Combat Diver
Sheldon Russell
Gary Contessa
Wounded Warrior Stables
5-1
2
1
Dontbetwithbruno
Manuel Franco
Todd Pletcher
Repole Stable
5-1
3
3
Classy Class
Junior Alvarado
Kiaran McLaughlin
Cheyenne Stables
5-1
4
4
El Kabeir
C. C. Lopez
John Terranova II
Zayat Stables
12-1
5
5
Lieutenant Colonel
Kendrick Carmouche
Chad C. Brown
Harvey Clarke and Paul Braverman
7-2
6
6
Tiz Shea D
Taylor Rice
Bill Mott
Wachtel Stable, Brous Stable and Gary Barber
8-5
7
7
Toasting Master
Angel Arroyo
Dale Romans
West Point Thoroughbreds
5-1
8
1A
Uninfluenced
Fernando Jara
Todd Pletcher
Repole Stable
15-1
9
8
Tencendur
Cornelio Velasquez
George Weaver
Philip S. Birsh
20-1
10
1X
Blame Jim
Jose Ortiz
Todd Pletcher
Repole Stable
8-1