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The road to the Kentucky Derby is getting a bit shorter, just two months until Louisville.
This Saturday at Aqueduct, it will be the $300,000 Gotham Stakes, attracting a bloated field of 13 3-year-olds going a one-turn mile with valuable Derby points (50/25/15/10/5) on the line.
The last of 10 races (four stakes, including the Busher, Stymie and Tom Fool [Handicap]) at the Big A goes at 5:36 PM ET. First post is 12:50 PM ET.
The last of 10 races (four stakes, including the Busher, Stymie and Tom Fool [Handicap]) at the Big A goes at 5:36 PM ET. First post is 12:50 PM ET.
Gotham Stakes Payout Odds
*Per BetUS (reading the odds: +3000 means a $100 bet pays $3000, +800 means at $100 bet pays $800, and so on)
1 Khanate +3000
2 Maximus Meridius +2000
3 Deterministic +450
4 Facenda +5000
5 Deposition +5000
6 Air Cav +3000
7 El Grande O +800
8 Bergen +450
9 Eliminate +1500
10 Just A Touch +250
11 Lightline +800
12 Slider +800
13 Capital Idea +1200
“Touch” the Fave
Just a Touch (Florent Geroux, post No. 10) is the 3-1 (+300) early favorite to win the Gotham. He is a son of Justify whose lone career start was a rousing, odds-on maiden score at Fair Grounds. Geroux was aboard then, and was sufficiently enamored to make the trip to New York.
Just a Touch is currently 28-1 (+2800) to win the first leg of the Triple Crown, according to Kentucky Derby odds.
Trainer Brad Cox has four in this race, including Air Cav (Eric Cancel, post No. 6, 30-1 [+3000], Bergen (Manny Franco, post No. 8, 9-2 [+450]) and Lightline (Ramon Vazquez, post No. 11 8-1 [+800]). Bergen enters off win the Jimmy Winkfield (Aqueduct), Air Cav won a maiden at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Lighline has hit the board in all four of his career tries.
What About Deterministic?
Deterministic (Joel Rosario, post No. 3, 9-2 [+450]) has taken the same path to the Gotham Stakes as the aforementioned Just a Touch…one (maiden) start, one win. The son of Liam’s Map was a rallying winner at Saratoga, but unraced since August.
Deterministic is one of two entrants trained by Christophe Clement, the other Capital Idea (Trevor McCarthy, 12-1, +1200]).
Pletcher and Rice
It wouldn’t be a stakes race in the Big Apple without Todd Pletcher, training both Khanate (Jose Gomez, post No 1. 30-1 [+3000]) and Eliminate (Dylan Davis, post No. 9, 15-1, [+1500]). Pletcher has won this race twice, but not since 2011.
Then, there’s trainer Linda Rice, enjoying a dynamite season to this point. She has El Grande O (Kendrick Carmouche, post No. 7, 8-1 [+800]), who doesn’t mind his job, as Saturday is his 11th career outing (three wins, five seconds, one third), He lost the Withers (Aqueduct) by a scant nose a month ago.
Remainder of Field
Rounding out the starting gate in the Gotham (in order of post position)...
No. 2-Maximus Meridius (Mychal Sanchez, 20-1 [+2000])
No. 4-Facenda (Abel Cedillo, 50-1 [+5000])
No. 5-Deposition (Dexter Haddock, 50-1 [+5000])
No. 12-Slider (Jose Lezcano, 8-1 [+800]).
Lezcano has won the last two Gothams.
Go With Lightline
Expect trainer Brad Cox to win the Gotham, but not with the horse who figures to be favored. Lightline was bumped at the start in the Withers at Aqueduct, compromising the chances of the then-11-10 choice. He finished third, and will be much more generous on the board in this race.
Simulcast wagering is available daily, as per horse racing odds.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
