Weekend Horse Racing - Gotham Stakes from Aqueduct

Padding Your Bankroll: Saturday March 7

The Triple Crown Trail leads us to New York today, where a wide open field of nine three year olds will go 1 1/16 miles over the inner surface in the $250,000 Gotham Stakes (G3).

The most promising Kentucky Derby candidate may come out of today’s $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1). Stardom Bound is seeking her fifth straight Grade 1 win, and a victory might set up a match up against the boys in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) next month.

She will not be much of a price today, but the Gotham appears to be a great opportunity to pad our bankroll, and I am going to attempt to light up the toteboard with a longshot.

Aqueduct Race 9 Gotham Stakes (G3) Post time 4:18 ET

#2 Russell Road
#8 I Want Revenge
#6 Hayensfield
#5 Mr. Fantasy

#2 Russell Road gets the call in a wide open Gotham, and this gelding should be going off at a generous price. The gelding beat up on foes at Charles Town as a two year old, winning three restricted stakes and reeling off five straight wins after a runner up finish in his debut. His three year old debut came at Laurel Park where he won the Dancing Count Stakes over three foes for his sixth win in a row. The runner up in the race was Great Love, a next out winner against Alw-3 foes at Charles Town. This is a huge class test and he has not been a route of ground, but those wins in West Virginia did come around two turns. Dunkleberger is in to ride for long time West Virginia trainer Jim Casey. The gelding has several sibs that were very good sprinters including Sweet Annuity ($260K), Shesanothergrump ($231K), and Shesagrumptoo ($333K). He just looks like the extra ground will not pose a problem and figures to get completely overlooked on the tote.

#8 I Want Revenge is shipping in from the left coast for the Jeff Mullins barn. His three year old debut was a good effort, a third place finish behind the highly regarded Pioneerof the Nile. Two back in the Cash Call Futurity (G1) the colt made a good late rally and came up just a nose short of winning. The main question mark is whether he likes the inner surface as he has only raced on synthetic surfaces in his six race career. Joe Talamo sees fit to make the trip to ride this colt.

#6 Haynesfield has done little wrong in his career, winning his last four starts. He went gate to wire to win the Whirlaway last out in gate to wire fashion. He is a perfect three for three on the inner surface and one of four in here to score over track. The colt is a half brother to Mama Theresa ($240K) and Mercy Matters ($160K).

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 10/1 or better.
EX 2,8 / 2,5,6,8
TRI: 2,8 / 2,5,6,8 / 2,3,5,6,7,8

Santa Anita Race 7 Santa Anita Oaks (G1) Post time 3:07 PT)

#1 Stardom Bound
#8 Beltene
#3 Miss Silver Brook
#4 Hooh Why

#1 Stardom Bound comes into this race winning her last four starts against Grade 1 company and catches a field here that is lacking any graded stakes victories. The daughter of Tapit was a $5.7 million purchase and she is earning her keep and with a strong performance here may end up facing the boys in the Santa Anita Derby, which could lead to a start in the Kentucky Derby. Her three year old debut off a 3 ½ month break in the Las Virgines (G1) was solid, and she just looks way too classy for this group. The price is going to be miniscule.