Aqueduct's Gotham Draws Overflow Field of 15

While the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) may be the last in one regard on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail, it's anything but the least in another.

An overflow field of 15 3-year-olds, with one also-eligible entrant, turned out for the March 4 mile stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack that will serve as the final one-turn qualifier for the May 6 opening leg of the Triple Crown.

While the Gotham would seem better suited as a prep for the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) or the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes (G1), a big part of its allure is that the winner will receive an ample number of qualifying points to lock up a spot in the 20-horse starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.

A total of 100 points will be up for grabs, with a distribution of 50-20-15-10-5 to the top five finishers that should keep at least a couple Triple Crown hopes alive.

Two starters in particular will be running for both points and new trainers for the first time in a setting that should determine how long they stay in the chase for Thoroughbred racing's most coveted prize.

Carmel Road  and Fort Warren  both started their career with trainer Bob Baffert in California, but with Baffert's horses ineligible for the Kentucky Derby and qualifying points, the two graded stakes-placed 3-year-olds have been moved to different barns for Saturday's race.

Carmel Road, a son of Quality Road   bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, will be making his 3-year-old debut for the ownership group of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Now with Tim Yakteen, the $650,000 buy from the Bridie Harrison consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale is coming off a runner-up finish for Baffert in the Dec. 17 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at 1 1/16 miles.

"He put his hand up for this race with his last work in California. It was a fantastic work," said SF's Tom Ryan, managing partner of the ownership group. "He has a great foundation under him and has a good mind and ships well. We'll see where he fits in. It's baby steps for him right now."

Ryan said after looking over the field and seeing how Fort Warren trains, a final decision to run or scratch him will be made. He is also entered in the March 6 City of Brotherly Love Stakes at Parx Racing.

"He showed us a lot of class early on but he's lightly raced and we have to find out more about him," Ryan said about the Stonestreet-bred.

Owned by the same partnership as Carmel Road, Fort Warren was third for Baffert in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park while making his second start. The son of Curlin  , bought for $550,000 at Keeneland September from the Taylor Made Sales Agency, is now trained by Maryland-based Brittany Russell.

Trainer Brad Cox, who has already claimed a victory in six Kentucky Derby preps, will chase number seven with a duo making their stakes debut, Gold Square's Slip Mahoney  and Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber, and Colin Reed's Eyeing Clover .

Slip Mahoney, a son of Arrogate , is coming off a maiden win at Aqueduct that followed a neck loss to Tapit Trice , who won his subsequent start by eight lengths for trainer Todd Pletcher. Eyeing Clover, a Lookin At Lucky   colt, is undefeated after two starts and most recently prevailed by nearly 10 lengths in a Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots allowance optional claimer.

The Gotham, the third of four monthly New York preps, also attracted BG Stables' Lugan Knight , who took the first of the quartet, the Jan. 7 Jerome Stakes, which is also contested at a one-turn mile.

Entries: Gotham S. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, March 04, 2023, Race 9

• Grade III
• 1m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo
• 4:56 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Clear the Air (KY)	Jack Gilligan	118	William Walden	30/1
2	2Howgreatisnate (KY)	J. D. Acosta	120	Andrew L. Simoff	10/1
3	3Mr. Swagger (KY)	Carlos Olivero	118	Juan Carlos Avila	10/1
4	4Uncorrelated (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	Chad C. Brown	10/1
5	5Carmel Road (KY)	Eric Cancel	118	Tim Yakteen	6/1
6	6General Banker (NY)	Frankie Pennington	118	James W. Ferraro	30/1
7	7Transect (KY)	Joseph Talamo	118	Paulo H. Lobo	15/1
8	8Fort Warren (KY)	Jevian Toledo	118	Brittany T. Russell	12/1
9	9Clubhouse (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	Todd A. Pletcher	20/1
10	10Lugan Knight (KY)	Dylan Davis	120	Michael W. McCarthy	6/1
11	11Slip Mahoney (KY)	Trevor McCarthy	118	Brad H. Cox	5/1
12	12Raise Cain (KY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Ben Colebrook	30/1
13	13Eyeing Clover (KY)	Florent Geroux	118	Brad H. Cox	4/1
14	14Recruiter (FL)	Angel Cruz	123	Cathal A. Lynch	12/1
15	15Radio Red (NY)	Jose Antonio Gomez	118	Danny Gargan	50/1