Gotham Possible for Drain the Clock or Super Strong

The $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack March 6 seemed to pick up one stakes-winning prospect this month while losing another.

Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. told Aqueduct publicity he is likely to ship either Drain the Clock or Super Strong to compete in the one-mile race, with a final decision expected early next week. Conversely, Brooklyn Strong, whose return from sickness has been further delayed by harsh winter in the northeast, has been ruled out of the Gotham by trainer Danny Velazquez.

The Gotham offers qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on a 50-20-10-5 scale.

Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Michael Nentwig, Drain the Clock was an open-lengths winner of his last two starts, a pair of stakes at Gulfstream Park. His most recent victory was by 6 1/4 lengths in the seven-furlong Claiborne Farm Swale Stakes (G3) Jan. 30.

Joseph said that either the Gotham or the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream are under consideration for the son of Maclean's Music . The Fountain of Youth is around two turns at 1 1/16 miles and is expected to draw one of the better Derby prep lineups of the year.

"We'll work him Sunday and get a better idea from there. Right now, it's still undecided," Joseph said. 

Sonata Stable's Super Strong scored when debuting in the seven-furlong Classico Agustin Mercado Revron (G1) at Camarero for his trainer at the time, Raymond Morales. He rallied from nine lengths off the pace and pulled clear by 2 1/2 lengths in the slop under jockey Juan Diaz. He has since worked for Joseph at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida, including a five-furlong breeze in :59 3/5 Feb. 13.

"The jockey that rode him (in his debut) has (ridden) a lot of good horses and said that he needed a chance in the states," said Joseph. "I really liked his last work. He did everything right and he galloped out really well. The real test will be how he runs next." 

Quick 3-year-olds Highly Motivated and Freedom Fighter are other possible Gotham starters.

Mark Schwartz' Brooklyn Strong, who has not raced or breezed since winning the 1 1/8-mile Remsen Stakes (G2) Dec. 5, is awaiting improved weather and track conditions before resuming working at Parx Racing. Winter storms have impacted the Mid-Atlantic region this month.

Velazquez is now hoping to have the Wicked Strong  gelding ready for either the $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) April 3 at Aqueduct or the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park April 10.

"They're the only options we have to try and get into the Derby," said Velazquez. "I'm not worried about distance with him, but I want him to be ready. Everyone goes into these races very prepared and right now I feel like we're short."