3/5/2022

  5  AQU    The Gotham (GIII)  [KYO]

        $300.000    3yo     1m  Dirt      122lbs

There were no fillies entered in The Gotham (GIII) at AQU on Saturday, so there goes all of the drama, right??  nah… wrong.  The race was declared a dead-heat but either the view is out of wack or Mickey got robbed.  After a stretch run where it looked like just about anyone could win, Mickey and Dwindle pushed clear late and it appeared to me that Mickey got the win by a whisker, but that’s not how the placing judge saw it and we had a dead-heat for the win.  The final running time was 1:35.30 for the flat mile distance on the fast main track.  Thunder Gulch had the lead late but couldn’t keep going and took third, a half length behind the winners.  Valvano was a neck back in fourth where we had a four horse photo for that minor share. 

The payoffs in this race also helps to prove that the Handicapping Contest vs the Pick-em Contest is still askew and needs to be addressed. 

Mickey is a 3yo chestnut gelded son of Proud Chai – Fine Skeleton, by Skeleton Key, and he was bred by his owner, South Shore Stables, in California.  This was his fourth win from seven starts and he now has lifetime earnings of $262.400.

Dwindle is a 3yo chestnut gelding by Sweet Sweat – Diluted, by Better Tip Toe, and he was bred in NY by his owner, Mb Stables.  He now has a bankroll of $438.600 and has five wins from eight starts.

Congrats to the connections! 

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast         Time: :23²  :46⁴  1:10²  1:35¹
$1 Exacta: 2 – 7 Paid 481.10, 7 – 2 Paid 721.10         $1 Trifecta: 2 – 7 – 9 Paid 666.00, 7 – 2 – 9 Paid 666.00
Scratched: None

Mickey sat behind early pace 2p, moved to 3p into the lane, found racing room 4p and accelerated forward to reach the front at the sixteenth, all out to wire, DH for the win.  Dwindle rated back will off of the pace, moved forward 6p into the lane, closed determinedly down the center, up on the wire, DH.  Thunder Gulch mid-pack to the lane while race 3p, short lead in deep stretch, out-kicked.  Valvano set the pace to the final 150-yards, headed, ceded.  Spiced pressed the pace throughout, out-finished late.  Hilarity wide trip cost better finish.  Model Commander was not a factor.  Mr Pancake trailed, passed weary foes.  Yang Gang some early speed, tired.  Blamethespeedparty pressed the pace to the furlong marker, nothing left.  Dream Rummer was outrun.  Jump The Line off a step slow, moved up through the turn and into the lane, faltered. 

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2021-2023, THE TRIPLE CROWN