Just a Touch, Bergen Among Cox's Gotham Hopefuls

Trainer Brad Cox could be represented by as many as four contenders in the March 2 $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The one-turn mile contest for sophomores offers Road to the Kentucky Derby points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers.

Topping the list for Cox are Qatar Racing and Marc Detampel's impressive maiden winner Just a Touch  along with Bergen , winner of the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes Jan. 27. Also under consideration for the Gotham are Withers Stakes (G3) and Jimmy Winkfield Stakes respective third-place finishers Lightline  and Air Cav .

Just a Touch, by Justify   and out of the graded stakes-winning Tapit   mare Touching Beauty , earned a lofty 100 Equibase Speed Figure in his 4 1/4-length debut score in a six-furlong maiden special weight over sloppy and sealed footing Jan. 27 at Fair Grounds.

Cox said the $300,000 purchase ran to his looks on debut.

"He's a really good physical—plenty of leg and good bone. He's really light on his feet, a good mover and a good work horse," Cox said. "Based off pedigree and physical, I feel pretty confident he's going to stretch. I like the idea of the one-turn mile with him.

"He's going from maiden to a graded stakes, so it's going to be deep waters for him and he's going to have to improve," added Cox. "The talent is there and he has a good mind. I'm hopeful he can have a good second half of February and first part of March and we can give him an opportunity to show that he's on the Derby trail."

Bergen, by Liam's Map  , was a debut winner traveling six furlongs in October at Keeneland before overcoming a troubled start to finish a rallying second in a one-turn mile in November at Churchill Downs.

Last out, Bergen grabbed a quarter in the six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield, but still dominated by 5 1/4 lengths over a muddy and sealed Big A main track. He breezed back a sharp half-mile in :47.53 Feb. 10 over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

"He's been back to the track and is doing great. He'll breeze again this weekend and start on our preparations for the Gotham," Cox said.

Air Cav, by Mitole  , finished third in the Jimmy Winkfield—12 lengths back of Bergen—while making his first start since a distant fifth-place finish in the Champagne Stakes (G1) in October.

"We're going to nominate him and let him tell us. He did bounce out of the Jimmy Winkfield in good order," Cox said.

Cox said Lightline will be considered for both the Gotham and the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) April 6 at the Big A.

"We may go straight to the Wood," Cox said. "There's other options out there as well, but right now the Gotham would be the race that comes up soonest for him. We'll let him tell us over the next week or two if that's something he wants to do."