Undefeated Eyeing Clover Targets Gotham

Ten Strike Racing’s co-managing partner Marshall Gramm is hopeful that two-time winning sophomore Eyeing Clover  can make his presence known on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail when targeting the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) March 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The one-turn mile Gotham is the penultimate local prep on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and awards the top-five finishers points based off a 50-20-15-10-5 scale.

Eyeing Clover was a debut winner sprinting six furlongs on New Year’s Eve at Oaklawn Park before shipping to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and defeating winners going the same distance on Jan. 28 by 9 3/4 lengths. He is trained Brad Cox, who captured the most recent local qualifier when Gary and Mary West’s Hit Show  won the Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 4.

According to Gramm, who manages Ten Strike Racing alongside Clay Sanders, a strong run in the Gotham would likely warrant a return to Oaklawn for the April 1 Arkansas Derby (G1)—a 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifier.

“The core of our partners are Arkansans and we wanted to use this step towards the Arkansas Derby. That’s a race we’d really love to win and participate in,” Gramm said. “For us, the dream race is the Arkansas Derby and the Gotham seems like a good stepping stone for it. We didn’t want to quite jump up from an allowance to first time routing in the Rebel (G2) next week from a timing standpoint and that race looks really tough. But the Gotham looks like it could be a really competitive race as well.”

Bred by Mike Abraham, Eyeing Clover, by Lookin At Lucky  , is out of the Forest Wildcat mare Floral Park, which makes him a half brother to graded stakes-winning female sprinter Heavenhasmynikki .

“We’ve been huge Lookin At Lucky fans and we think this one is going to get better as the distances get longer, though his female family is fairly sprint-based,” Gramm said. “We’re excited about coming to New York for the Gotham and excited about the horse’s future. They bred a speedy female family to Looking At Lucky and it’s given us an early developer. We have every reason to believe based on the sire that he should improve going longer and we hope the Gotham is that first step towards the Arkansas Derby.”

Gramm credited bloodstock agent Liz Crow, who also serves as Ten Strike Racing’s stable manager, for selecting Eyeing Clover for $55,000 out of the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“We’ve been working with Liz and she buys all of our yearlings and 2-year-olds. This was one that really jumped out at her,” Gramm said. “It was a fast-looking Lookin At Lucky and she knew our affinity for the stallion and loved the female family as well. Hopefully, putting those two together can put us on the trail.”

Eyeing Clover will likely not be the only Gotham aspirant for Cox, who could also send out regally-bred maiden winner Slip Mahoney . Owned by Gold Square, Slip Mahoney, by Arrogate and out of the grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Got Lucky , worked five furlongs in 1:01 over the Belmont Park training track on Feb. 18.