Late Pass Gives Plan to Wheel a Gotham Win

By Nynl Stables on March 7, 2021

The Gotham (Grade 3) (KYD)- $300.000 Purse
AQU- For Three Year Olds
One Mile on the Dirt
March 6, 2021

Saturday would end up being a good day for Fractious as the trainer picked up wins in both the TAM Derby, and here in The Gotham. In this race, it would be a horse that he picked up in private sales last September, named Plan To Wheel, who picked up the win. The jury is still out on the consistency of this horse, but he would show his potential here in scoring the valuable 50 points for the KYD. It is the first win in the stke for both Fractious and trainer J Lezcano. Congratulations to them! The race was run in a time of 1:34.85, the quickest of the five editions of this race that have been run at a mile. Let’s take a look!

(¼ Mile- :23.86)- The filly, Viral Breakdown, leads the way for Aer Stables, ahead of a group of five who seem content to stalk early on. Dream State, out of Mb Stables, running on the outside of this group pokes a neck in front for second, ahead of Canine Rule (Alydar Stables), Holy Water (D J C Racing Stables), Invade The Storm (Saratoga Stud), and our eventual winner from Fractious, Plan To Wheel. Right behind them is Debunkin Szn (Mb Stables) , and the post time favorite, Pocantico (Smokey Stover). It’s another length to Poor Spaniard (La Canada Racehorses). Another half length to the final three, Doctors Order (Crocker Ggs), Caleb Toothpaste (Night Rider Stables), and Ulterior Motive (Waldo).

(½ Mile- :47.60)- Completing the backstretch trip, there is some shuffling around in the running order, with one of the changes being for the top spot. That now belongs to Dream State, who leads slightly over Viral Breakdown. These two occupy the third and the fourth lanes as they enter the turn, so an opening exists for two stalkers, Invade The Storm and Canine Rule. Others that were in that five wide group dropped off just a bit, with Plan To Wheel actually backpedaling to the seventh spot for now, behind Holy Water and Debunking Szn, but also Poor Spaniard, who moved up a bit. Pocantico was eighth, and running to Plan To Wheel’s inside. A gap of two lengths remained to Doctors Order, Caleb Toothpaste, and Ulterior Motive.

(Top Of Stretch, 2F To Go)- Viral Breakdown reassumes the lead entering the stretch, but Dream State is still within half a length. About midway into the turn, Plan To Wheel showed new ambition to move forward and advanced to the third position. He still had about two lengths to make up. Invade The Storm was holding steady on the rail, but not pushing forward. That was still better than former running mate Canine Rule, who was dropping back. Holy Water seemed to be running well, for now. Pocantico still had a lot of work to do for this point in the race.

(Finish- 1:34.85)- Viral Breakdown looks good halfway into the stretch, and it seemed like she might be about to beat the boys once again. However, in the sixth or seventh lane, Plan To Wheel had plenty left, and was at his best in the dying moments of the race to soar to the lead and get the win by a length. Viral Breakdown once again runs well, though, and places second, prevailing over the too little too late run of Pocantico. Dream State is fourth, narrowly over Holy Water. Everyone else here was a non factor. The final running order is Invade The Storm, Poor Spaniard, Doctors Order, Ulterior Motive, Caleb Toothpaste, Canine Rule, and Debunking Szn.

About The Winner- Plan To Wheel, trained by Fractious and ridden to victory by J Lezcano, is a three year old gelding by Strategic Command, and is out of Sweep The Wheel. He was bred in Florida by Gdp Inc as a first quarter two year old, and acquired by Fractious in private sales for $150.000 in September 2020. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in seven starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $258.160.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Plan To Wheel

Fractious

Lezcano J

10.90

1¹