Pandagate Headlines Field for New York Derby

Pandagate , the 3-year-old son of Arrogate who ran third in the $1 million U.A.E. Derby (G2) in March, headlines the July 15 New York Derby at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.

The $150,000-added New York Derby, one of the signature stakes of Finger Lakes season, will feature six state-bred 3-year-olds going a mile and 1/16th. The Derby is the seventh race on the nine-race program, which features a new first-race post time of 1 p.m ET.

Pandagate, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, brings to Finger Lakes a short but impressive resume. He has two wins, two thirds, and a bankroll of $201,650 in his four career starts.

That includes runaway victories in his two tries against New York-breds, winning his career debut by nine lengths in October before a 5 1/2-length score in the $100,000 Gander Stakes in February at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Christophe Clement trainee then shipped to Dubai and ran a rallying third in a field of 11 in the UAE Derby on March 30. The race winner, Forever Young , finished third in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Dylan Davis, who was aboard Pandagate in Dubai as well for the colt's two victories, will again ride. Pandagate drew post four.

Doc Sullivan , who drew the rail, is the 5-2 second choice in the morning line. He brings as two-race winning streak to Finger Lakes, including a victory in the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes for New York-breds in June at Saratoga Racecourse.

Jockey Javier Castellano will again get the mount. He is 2-for-2 aboard Doc Sullivan, who is trained by Michael Miceli.

Doc Sullivan will look to avenge his loss to Pandagate in the Gander.

Rounding out the field: Elysian Meadows  (4-1, jockey Junior Alvarado, trainer Bill Mott), Merlin's Moment  (8-1, Luis Rivera Jr., James Bond), Skyler's Starship  (10-1, Keibar Coa, M. Anthony Ferraro) and Aggelos the Great  (8-1, Manny Franco, George Weaver).

Monday's fifth-race co-feature is the $75,000 New York Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile test of state-bred fillies headlined by Sweet Brown Sugar .

The Paul Barrow-trainee brings a three-racing winning streak into the race and she has won five of her seven career starts with earnings of $180,500. That includes stakes victories in the $50,000 Niagara at Finger Lakes on June 24 and the $100,000 East View in March at Aqueduct.

Jockey Jeremias Flores will again ride Sweet Brown Sugar, who is the 8-5 morning-line favorite.

Caldwell Luvs Gold , the second choice at 9-5, could be the biggest threat to the favorite. Trained by Brad Cox, Caldwell Luvs Gold has earned $254,765 and is coming off a fast-closing second in the Bouwerie Stakes on June 9 at Saratoga.

Manny Franco will ride the daughter of Goldencents  , who was a stakes winner as a juvenile (the Seeking the Ante at Saratoga) and finished third to Sweet Brown Sugar in the East View.

Trainer James Bond is looking to win his seventh career New York Oaks. He has entered Purpose , who finished fourth in her only career start in April. Junior Alvarado will ride.