The Gotham – Grade III (P5) [KYD]
AQU Race #5 1m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Gun Down Mb Stables Davis D

Looked a better horse when upped to routes to break his maiden at two and after two starts at shorter distances looks ready to up his game again and get into the finish here. He flew late on a muddy track and from a wide draw in the San Vicente Stakes last month running third but only beaten a neck behind Socotra Island and as long as he doesnt get buried from this gate i expect him to get very close to that one again. His works are in the ball park as are just about all of the runners but he looks as if this mile will be just what the doctor ordered.

2 Salar de Uyuni Mb Stables Husbands P

The second stable runner and drawn right next to his stable mate as the random draw tends to do with stable mates and he adds to a very strong hand being held by the champion trainer in this race. Another that ran over shorter last time but has looked a router he was flying home in the Swale from a wide gate to be third and although beaten a couple of lengths went into a few black books for his very nice effort. A 1.36 and 2 work just a few days ago suggest that Mb is just starting to get a handle on his December purchase and i would expect a big show from thsi perfect draw.

3 Golden Boy D J C Racing Stables Franco M

His form really has an inconsistent look about it so it is hard to place this horse. At his best like running a close third in the Breeders Futurity and a very close second in the LA Futurity he would be good enough to win this but his worst like his last start in the Holy Bull would only put him mid pack at best. So which one turns up today? Well he has an ideal draw and a stable that is in fine form so he has every chance of running his best but i cannot get excited about his prospects until he shows me more than he did on seasonal debut.

4 Clueless Joe Allinthegate Carmouche K

Looked pretty good on the turf last year when taking the Summer Stakes at grade one over this trip but after a failure in the BC his trainer switched hm back to the dirt for a tilt at the KYD and a freshen up. He ran pretty well from a rotten draw in the LA Futurity to suggest there was a possibility of the KYD and then on seasonal debut confirmed that with a fair effort in the Lecompt when fifth. His works suggest some improvement so he could be a lively chance at longer odds.

5 Pericles Aer Stables Geroux F

This winner of four from six carries some stable confidence and his seasonal debut win in the Allison Derby certainly did nothing to harm that opinion. His works dont measure up to his performances on the track but that hasnt mattered so much recently as long as they can work in the ball park it seems more to do with the horses heart and adaptability in a race. This one certainly has no trouble winning and if he can lay up into a comfortable stalk without too much knocking about then he could turn out to be another stable Derby hope.

6 Rocky Mountain Hi D J C Racing Stables Saenz D

This one started his career very well scoring a competitive maiden win and then the ELP Juvenile but then things went wrong in the Pharaoh and its taken a while for him to get his confidence back. He looked better in the Swale last time out when ridden on the pace and ending upa game second which put him right back to his best. Hs works are good enough but he has something to prove going further than seven furlongs today.

7 World Turning Alydar Stables Lezcano J

Some good efforts as a juvenile including a good third in the Remsen looked to make him a strong chance in these early qualifiers but he has failed pretty badly twice already and its tough to see him turning that around today.

8 Socotra Island Nynl Stables Cancel E

He did well enough at two to suggest this sort of race would be on his radar and after a decent seasonal debut when fourth in the Sham Stakes he was very gutsy in winning the San Vicente from an unfavorable draw. He got into the stalk after doing some early work in that race and it looks as if he will have to do similar again today from this 8 gate. There are plenty of positives for his chances today and if he gets an ounce of luck in running he should be there at the end.

9 Di Bug Night Rider Stables Maragh Ro

Last seasons winner of the Hopeful Stakes he got the wrong side of the draw on seasonal debut in the San Vicente but flew from a fair way back to be sixth and close enough to his rivals to give him a chance today. He again gets a poor draw but i also think he can overcome it if his trainer gets the instructions right and he could be another that may provide a value bet at longer odds.

10 Lionking Invader Estero Farms Landeros C

One look at this ones form tells you just how important the draw is at HRP and with another poor draw today it will be one of those lucky luck stories if he can get himself a good enough position to launch his undoubted talent from. He was really brave in the Swale last time gamely winning by a neck but he ran from the perfect alley that day and does not get the same treatment in this race, He must have a chance if given a decent trip but thats a big if.

11 Rainstorm Fractious Pimentel J

Both the winner of the Sawl and this the winner of the San Vicente are drawn horribly wide in this race giving a strong chance to those they best to turn the tables in this race. This one was mighty game in the San Vicente making all and hanging on for a dead heat win impressive in the fact that not many can make the running and still win here at HRP. I expect him to go forward from his wide draw today and that will once again make him vulnerable to closers but he will make a big effort to win his fourth in a row.

12 Scarlet Ninja Joshua Stables Melancon G

Another wide drawn horse who would be strongly fancied if closer to the rail he has been hung out before and actually did really well to be a close second in the grade one Breeders Futurity so it may not be the kiss of death it seems. His 1.36 and 2 work a week or so ago will have him spot on for this and he did well enough in the Lecompt when third to suggest he has trained on from his very good juvenile season. Like so many other fancied runners he will need some luck to weave his way through but he certainly has the ability.

SUMMARY

There is an awful lot of talent draw wide in this race so like a good few of these qualifiers i expect we will see some switching of form and some hard luck stories. Its impossible not to like the two Mb Stables runners as they get such favorable draws and it may just be as simple as that because all the horses that have the form to beat them are drawn much wider. Clueless Joe may be a danger frm his nice gate but none of those would be good enough from wide gates so it may pay to take a gamble and rely on some HRP luck and pick something wider. I like Di Bug as my first choice and Scarlet Ninja may run a big race especially if the rain comes.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES