Tipsheet: 2022 Gotham Stakes

A talented and well-matched field of 10 sophomores will go one-mile in the $300,000 Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday. The 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event will reward the top four finishers with qualifying points on a 50-20-10-5 basis.

Gotham Stakes Picks

• #9 Morello
• #10 Rockefeller
• #5 Dean’s List
• #2 Glider

Gotham Stakes Wagers

• $15 win and place 9
• 10-cent superfecta 9 with 2, 5, 10 with all with all

Gotham Stakes Contenders

#1 RUNNINSONOFAGUN (30-1) comes in with a pair of sprint wins in succession on the oval. The John Toscano pupil finished up well last time and is bred for the distance, but this is a major class hike and the son of Gun Runner will need a career-best showing to make the frame in this spot.

#2 GLIDER (8-1) has shown improvement in each lifetime try and was a clear runner-up behind the impressive Emmanuel last time out at Tampa Bay Downs. The Mark Casse trainee possesses a fine turn of foot, and he will likely benefit from an expected fast early tempo in this endeavor. Antonio Gallardo will come in to pilot the talented prospect.

#3 GOLDEN CODE (12-1) broke through with a huge 10-length tally over a muddy strip on the course last time out for Todd Pletcher. The son of Honor Code faces open company while stretching out in distance, but one can’t ever discount a contender from this barn. Regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount.

#4 FROMANOTHMUTHA (6-1) posted a hefty 105 Brisnet Speed figure while breaking his maiden on the surface in his latest performance for trainer Ray Handal. The dark bay son of Unified was outrun in his first stakes attempt, but he will be a factor late with something resembling his most recent showing. Dylan Davis rides.

#5 DEAN’S LIST (7-2) is two-for-two following a game allowance victory at Gulfstream Park last time out. The Pletcher pupil comes in fresh and sports some solid morning drills in the interim, and the chestnut might be the one to catch turning for home in his stakes bow. Manny Franco picks up the ride.

#6 LIFE IS GREAT (15-1) has placed in two stakes races in succession, but the Bobby Klesaris charge looks to be in a very difficult spot against this cast. A win for the Tapiture colt would be a surprise.

#7 NONEEDTOWORRY (30-1) adds blinkers following a belated fifth-place result in the Withers S. (G3), and he is another who needs a major leap forward to be in the mix late on Saturday.

#8 BOLD JOURNEY (6-1) was caught near the wire in the recent Gander S. for New York-bred runners in his stakes bow most recently. The Bill Mott trainee is quick and talented, though he didn’t give the impression of a route horse when coming home slowly last time. Jorge Vargas will ride and have the Hard Spun colt forwardly placed from the start.

#9 MORELLO (3-1) gets top billing following two impressive races to date, led by a daylight victory in the Jimmy Winkfield S. on the surface. The $250,000 son of Classic Empire has closed with excellent energy in each of his career races to date and gives the impression of a colt who is perfectly suited for the one-mile journey. Regular pilot Jose Lezcano retains the mount.

#10 ROCKEFELLER (4-1) has never run a bad race for Bob Baffert and is the likely one to beat in this spot. The Medaglia d’Oro colt bagged the Nashua S. (G3) at Belmont two back, prior to a runner-up result in the Sham S. (G3) most recently. The Kentucky-bred bay has very good gate presence and will be forcing the tempo from the start beneath Trevor McCarthy.