Freedom Fighter, Highly Motivated Stretch Out in Gotham

In terms of qualifying points, the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) is certainly as important of a Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) prep as either of the other two points races on this weekend's schedule.

It just has more question marks attached to it than the typical stepping stone to the Triple Crown.

As much as a victory in the March 6 stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack will assure the winner of a spot in the Kentucky Derby, there's an inordinate amount of apprehension tied to it. Since it is contested at a one-turn mile, the Gotham has once again attracted a field that includes several key starters whose connections are uncertain if their 3-year-old will spend the spring running in the Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU (G2) and the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) or the longer, two-turn spring classics.

"I think the Gotham is a race for figuring out where you fit," said two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert. 

For Baffert, the Gotham should answer some pertinent questions about future plans for his grade 2-placed Freedom Fighter, who has been shipped from one coast to the other for Saturday's race.

The son of Violence  has only raced twice, recording a pair of good efforts at California tracks.

Out of the City Zip mare Canadian Ballet, he was a front-running winner of his Aug. 1 five-furlong debut at Del Mar for the ownership group of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson. He remained on the sidelines until Feb. 6 when he made his 3-year-old debut and finished second to the Baffert-trained Concert Tour in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.

Through the stretchout to a mile, the Gotham should answer most of Baffert's questions about Freedom Fighter's abilities at longer distances.

"Coming off the layoff, he ran great at seven-eighths (in the San Vicente), and I wanted to keep him at one turn for right now so I thought the Gotham was a good spot," Baffert said. "We're taking baby steps. I think we'll know more after the Gotham. I remember thinking (2014 Breeders' Cup Classic, G1, winner) Bayern  was just a one-turn horse, then he was able to stretch out as he got older. As (Freedom Fighter) matures he'll get a distance. I just don't know if he's ready for it right now. He's a fast horse and he'll tell us."

The dark bay 3-year-old, who was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Troy Reed, was purchased for $120,000 from the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by the SF/Starlight/Madaket team that has been dubbed "The Avengers," which bought and raced 2020 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Authentic .

Much the same can be said of Klaravich Stables' homebred Highly Motivated, who will be making his first start at 3 for trainer Chad Brown. The son of Into Mischief  has not raced since Nov. 6 when he won the 6 1/2-furlong Nyquist Stakes at Keeneland, putting him behind the top shelf Kentucky Derby candidates in terms of recent races and leaving questions about his future at two turns in limbo.

"We knew when we stopped on him we were putting his back against the wall in terms of him being a Kentucky Derby horse, and I'm realistic about these things," said Brown, who will also send out Klaravich's maiden winner Crowded Trade. "He showed me he deserves consideration, and we'll go from there. I'm happy with how he's come along and it provides me and (owner Seth Klarman) with the flexibility to get the horse to the Kentucky Derby or still have a full 3-year-old campaign without racing him that much in the spring. That's our strategy, and we're married to it."

The field of eight, which will divide 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points among the top four finishers, also includes Bing Cherry Racing and Leonard Liberto's Capo Kane, who has two-turn experience in graded stakes company.

After romping in Aqueduct's Jan. 1 Jerome Stakes at a mile, the California-bred son of Street Sense  set the pace in the 1 1/8-mile Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 6 but tired in the final furlong and finished third.

Trained by Harold Wyner, Capo Kane already has 12 qualifying points.

"We are excited and proud of his accomplishments so far," Liberto said.

The field also includes Wipe the Slate, who was sixth in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, and a trio of maiden winners in Atlantic Road, The Reds, and Weyburn.

Entries: Gotham S. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, March 06, 2021, Race 9

• Grade III
• 1m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo
• 5:07 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Atlantic Road (KY)	Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.	118	Todd A. Pletcher	30/1
2	2The Reds (KY)	Pablo Morales	118	John C. Kimmel	30/1
3	3Highly Motivated (KY)	Javier Castellano	120	Chad C. Brown	8/5
4	4Wipe the Slate (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	Doug F. O'Neill	6/1
5	5Crowded Trade (KY)	Eric Cancel	118	Chad C. Brown	9/2
6	6Capo Kane (CA)	Dylan Davis	120	Harold Wyner	5/1
7	7Freedom Fighter (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	Bob Baffert	5/2
8	8Weyburn (ON)	Trevor McCarthy	118	James A. Jerkens	20/1