Gotham Starters Could Target Another Derby Day Stakes

At first glance, Aqueduct Racetrack's $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) seems like an important Kentucky Derby (G1) prep.

The winner gets 50 qualifying points, which basically assures that 3-year-old of a spot among 20 starters in the May 4 opening leg of the Triple Crown.

In addition, the 25 points for finishing second puts the runner-up in the thick of the chase for a starting berth in the Run for the Roses.

Yet, when the one-turn mile distance is taken into consideration, it's hardly a surprise that a different race on Derby Day at Churchill Downs could be on some of the travel itineraries.

Take Slider , who was shipped from California to New York by trainer John Sadler for the March 2 Gotham.

"He's a cool horse," said Terry Finley, founder and president of West Point Thoroughbreds, one of the owners of the son of Jimmy Creed  . "He's the kind of horse we like to buy and get our hands on. We liked him from the beginning and he's a horse we are excited about. But is he a mile-and-quarter horse? Probably not."

Instead, the Gotham will serve as Slider's prep for the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) May 4 at Churchill Downs and down the road, seven-furlong tests like the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) would be targets for the Kentucky-bred colt also owned by Hall Racing and Pearl Racing.

"There wasn't really a race for him in California and we're hoping he has enough quality to run in races like the Pat Day, Woody Stephens, and Allen Jerkens. Those are the type of races we are looking for and the Gotham seemed like a good opportunity to get him in the right spot," said Finley, whose colt drew post 12 in the large field of 13.

Slider, purchased for $240,000 from the Marcial Galan consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, has won two of his five career starts. Bred by Jason Hall, Stephen Baker, Herschel Martindale, and Mike Riordan out of the Congrats  mare Days Like This , he was third last time out behind Muth  in the seven-furlong San Vincente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park while making his 3-year-old debut. He closed out his 2-year-old campaign with two turf races, winning the Speakeasy Stakes and finishing ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T), losing by a little more than three lengths.

Other Entrants

The field for the Gotham also includes El Grande O , who was second for trainer Linda Rice in the mile-and-an-eighth Withers Stakes (G3) and the Jerome Stakes at a mile, both at the Big A. The son of Take Charge Indy   has 15 qualifying points and is 18th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

The other main threats are four Brad Cox-trained 3-year-olds and two from trainer Christophe Clement.

Cox's foursome consists of Jimmy Winkfield Stakes winner Bergen  (Liam's Map  ); Air Cav  (Mitole  ), who was third in the Winkfield; debut winner Just a Touch  (Justify  ); and Lightline  (City of Light  ), who was third as the favorite in the Withers.

Clement will send out maiden winners Capital Idea  (Classic Empire ) and Deterministic  (Liam's Map).