The Gotham – Grade III [KYD]
2/28/2026 14:00 2/24/2026 3:00 AQU Race #5 1m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Three Year Olds.
1 Gaelic Commander High Voltage Centeno D E 122
This one’s ability is undoubted but so far that ability has been displayed in turf sprints rather than dirt routes so there is a fair amount here that we have to take on trust. Bought from Barcelona Farms after his brilliant BC Sprint win, he was stretched out to six and a half last time and stayed the trip well enough to believe that a mile may be within his scope. The next question is surface and a quick look at his last two works tell us all we need to know and probably knew already….it will make no difference. So, assuming he stays the mile and that the surface will not change his ability we are left with a very good horse, drawn the ace and with a perfect running style for this race. The odds monkeys may well ignore him with very little cross over form to go on so he could well turn out to be a value bet.
2 Majestic Heights Threshold Gallardo A A 122
Another lightly raced sort with little or no crossover form, his works say he is better than average. The trip will be the big question mark but if he stays the mile there seems to be no reason he can’t be close enough at the end to give him an outsider’s chance.
3 Ideal Hero Jkk Racing Stables Smith M E 122
Another that had been successfully sprinting he at least has given us a clue about his ability to get the trip when he took on the Holy Bull last time. Stalking a solid pace on an off track it wasn’t surprising that he weakened at the end, but he ran well enough to give him another chance today. Can he win? Well, there are two scenarios’ here, if he stalks a fast pace he may again struggle at the end but if the pace is more moderate then I can see him having every chance. The second scenario may be to give him a breather early and save his speed for the end but this draw will make that tough without some luck. He has ability but today is his acid test.
4 The Hunter Maxmillion Farm Rodriguez Jam 122
His form was building nicely last year and when he ran a great second in the Breeders Futurity, but he disappointed in the BC Juvenile and again in the Jerome last time. Maxmillion bought him for $375.000 and then gelded him in the hope that he can find that juvenile form again and on works at least there has been some encouragement on that front. A chance at redemption today he may be saved for a last run at them and this draw give him options to go back but not lose touch.
5 Self Love Mb Stables Zayas E J 122
Everyone knows that this stable will always have a strong hand in these qualifying races and this the first of their three runners will almost certainly start favourite. His juvenile form certainly read swell for a TC type, and he was very impressive in the Withers in his first start as a three-year-old to put him right on the KYD map. He handled the tearaway pace in the Withers like a horse with a plan dropping a little further back than normal but cruising past them when the time was right for a clear-cut win. I really like that sort of ability in a horse, one that can react to pace and run his race without being a victim of it. A win today and this one could well be the KYD favourite.
6 Suspended Mb Stables Lezcano J 122
I feel we have seen this before from this stable, a maiden outworking the field that hasn’t been able to win in eight starts, sitting in a KYD qualifier….ring any bells. If you ignore the fact that he hasn’t been able to win a maiden and look at the fact that he has run 5 of his starts on turf and yet seems a stronger worker on dirt this horse has an air of inevitability about it. Considering he managed a third in the BC Juvenile Turf will seem more remarkable if he wins this and goes on to the KYD and given the 1.36- and 2-mile work and the 1.10 and 2 six-furlong work that is exactly what he could do.
7 Raining Prince Nakamura Stables Castillo I 122
This one won four times as a juvenile including two stakes’ races so there is no doubt he measures up to these. I was a bit disappointed by his effort in the Lecomte last time where he travelled well enough but was lackluster at the end but as a first run of the year, he was entitled to be a bit race rusty. He doesn’t come here as an obvious winning chance, but I expect an improved effort and that could see him in the top four.
8 Off To Shepton Asgar Curtis B 122
Gets his opportunity here after breaking his maiden in stakes company at the end of last year. He may need this run as a seasonal debut but there is undoubted ability here and he has drawn a jockey in form and is from a stable that is no stranger to winning big races.
9 Poor Mans Song Williams9 Corrales G 122
A possible pace influence after his all the way win last time, like a few others in this field he does have something to prove over this longer trip. Despite his last win coming in a claimer he has placed at stakes level before that and has shown enough in his works to say he is better than a claimer. Not an obvious winning chance but he could surprise a few.
10 Cumberland Blue Jerry Garcia Racing Ortiz J L 122
For me this is the dark horse in the field. With just three starts for one maiden win his form doesn’t scream winner but the fact that he ran such a good race in the Swale last time, is fit and working like Pegasus tells me this could be his day. He has been screaming out for a mile plus so I guess the only question mark will be his wide draw. The thing that gives me some confidence is that fact that he raced from a similar gate in the Swale last time and travelled pretty close to the speed whereas he won his maiden with a big late run. Those efforts tell me he is adaptable, a key element in these big fields.
11 Bells N Whistles TwinTowersRacing Pennington F 122
A good third in the Holy Bull last time tells us that this one has improved from two to three and may be ready to provide the popular trainer with yet another KYD runner. Drawn wide in the Holy Bull he went back and ran home strongly but like a few of the others may find that option difficult today so the trainer could be looking at ways to keep him closer to the pace. If he can slot in nearer the front this one has plenty of good reasons to run a big race.
12 Control The Center Mb Stables Hernandez R M 122
An unfortunate draw for the experienced graded stakes winner but I actually think it is not a bad thing for his chances. He made all to win the Pharoah from the same gate and also made all to win the San Vicente from a worse than midfield draw so he clearly likes to lead if he can and knows how to use the wide gate speed push to achieve that. This is a fairly balanced race as far as closers and speed horses go so we could see him crossing to the lead and setting the pace he is happy to run, if he gets it his own way he will be hard to get past.
SUMMARY
As always it is tough to pick the winners of races like this but to me at least there seems to be a couple of outstanding chances here, I am happy to box up for a trifecta. The three Mb runners are the obvious starting point but if there is one I like to split them up or beat them it is Cumberland Blue. So those four would be my boxed trifecta but if you own a horse that isn’t one of them do not despair as there isn’t a horse in this group without a good reason they could win.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES