Tipsheet: 2023 Gotham Stakes

An overflow field of 15 three-year-olds will run one-mile on the Aqueduct main strip on Saturday in the $300,000 Gotham S. (G3). The 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the top five across the line with qualifying points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis.

Gotham Stakes Selections

• #10 Lugan Knight
• #3 Mr. Swagger
• #7 Transect
• #5 Carmel Road

Gotham Stakes Wagers

• $15 win and place: #10 Lugan Knight
• $2 exacta: box 3, 5, 7, 10
• 50-cent trifecta: box 3, 5, 7, 10

Gotham Stakes Contenders

#1 CLEAR THE AIR: The Will Walden trainee broke his maiden second time out at Turfway Park and finished an even fourth in a subsequent allowance test on the surface. The Ransom the Moon colt looks to be in deep moving to the dirt in a field with this kind of depth to it.

#2 HOWGREATISNATE: The Speightster gelding gets his class test while coming in with an unblemished four-for-four mark for Andy Simoff. The bay gelding is a dual stakes winner with obvious class to him, and he is bred for the distance. J.D. Acosta retains the mount atop the contender.

#3 MR. SWAGGER: A second timer that left a fine impression when winning at first asking on the course. The Juan Avila pupil held off a subsequent winner in that test and looks like the type that will thrive with the extra distance on Saturday. The Maclean’s Music colt could upset the field with a forward move on this occasion.  

#4 UNCORRELATED: This chestnut son of Arrogate made good at first asking over an ‘off’ track here for conditioner Chad Brown. The $170,000 yearling purchase has trained forwardly since, and he could be any kind going forward. Manny Franco stays in the silks.

#5 CARMEL ROAD: The West Coast invader capped his two-year-old campaign with a smart runner-up finish in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). Now in the Tim Yakteen barn, the Quality Road colt will make his Aqueduct debut and he will be formidable if he runs to his long string of rapid morning moves. Eric Cancel inherits the ride.

#6 GENERAL BANKER: The Central Banker colt finished a distant third in the Withers S. (G3) most recently and would be a surprise while facing tougher in this endeavor. The James Ferraro trainee could earn a minor award late if the pace backs up in the lane.

#7 TRANSECT: Paulo Lobo's pupil has been impressive from two career tries, both tallies on the synthetic at Turfway Park. The $300,000 weanling purchase has captured each of his outings in visually impressive fashion, and rates a big chance on Saturday with expected improvement while stretching out. Joe Talamo picks up the mount on the son of Gun Runner.

#8 FORT WARREN: Brittany Russell will saddle the Curlin colt for the first time, and the sophomore is one to consider making just his third lifetime appearance. The $550,000 bay was no match when third in the San Vicente S. (G2) in his latest showing, but the colt is training in solid fashion and will improve in his first local try. Jevian Toledo comes in to guide the top-four contender.

#9 CLUBHOUSE: The Speightstown colt will route for the first time on the dirt in this tough assignment for Todd Pletcher. He has good current form coming off of a second-place result in the Jimmy Winkfield S., and will be forwardly placed from the opening bell.

#10 LUGAN KNIGHT: The Jerome S. victor gets top billing for conditioner Mike McCarthy. The Goldencents homebred showed a new dimension by leading at every call in the Jerome, and the one-turn mile might be his ideal trip. Dylan Davis will be in the stirrups once again.

#11 SLIP MAHONEY: The gray son of Arrogate just missed two back and broke through with a maiden victory last time out, while facing excellent opposition on both occasions. He is cut out to be a very good one and will be very dangerous in here, and throughout the spring, if he runs to his catalog page. Trevor McCarthy will put the win threat into the race early on.

#12 RAISE CAIN: The Ben Colebrook trainee has come up short in a trio of stakes tries in succession against lesser, and it’s hard to endorse his chances against this group at this stage of his development.

#13 EYEING CLOVER: The second runner from the Brad Cox shedrow is two-for-two following a pair of sprint victories leading up to his stakes bow. The Lookin At Lucky colt is kin to a trio of stakes winners and could be in line for improvement while stretching out. The presence of jockey Florent Geroux is a positive as well.

#14 RECRUITER: The unbeaten son of Army Mule has won in measured fashion in each of his four lifetime tries to date and gets a real class test on this occasion. The $125,000 juvenile purchase has won from on and off the early pace, and the Cathal Lynch pupil could be a stubborn foe if he receives a good trip in this tilt. Angel Cruz will be in the silks.

#15 RADIO RED: The Danny Gargan trainee earned a huge 102 Brisnet Speed number for his maiden sprint victory last time out, but he will have to go from the maiden ranks to graded company, while also stretching out from the widest post in the heat if he draws in. Jose Gomez has the assignment.