Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York on Saturday, March 3
The Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct
Post position. horse (weight), jockey/trainer, last race l
1. My Adonis (120) Trujillo/Breen, 3rd Holy Bull
2. Stealcase (116) Contreras/Casse, 1st GP maiden
3. Finnegans Wake (116) Desormeaux/Romans, 4th GP turf
4. Pretension (116) Santiago/Grove, 1st NY-bred stakes
5. Maan (116) Maragh/Kenneally, 1st GP allowance
6. Dan and Sheila (116) Velazquez/Pletcher, 4th Lecomte
7. Suns Out Guns Out (116) Ortiz/Romans, 3rd GP maiden
8. Raconteur (120) Velasquez/Pletcher, 1st Aqu allow.
9. King and Crusader (116) Luzzi/R. Dutrow, 1st Jimmy Winkfield
10. Side Road (116) A. Garcia/McLaughlin 1st Aqu maiden
11. Done Talking (116) Cohen/Smith, 4th Remsen
12. Hansen (123) Dominguez/Maker, 2nd Holy Bull
13. Tiger Walk (116) Castro/Correas, *3rd Withers
The Gotham Stakes is named after New York City and dates back to 1953 when it was first run at old Jamaica Racetrack. Since being moved to Aqueduct in 1960, the Gotham has had a bit of a checkered history. Up until the 1990’s, some of racing’s biggest names won the Gotham on their way to the Triple Crown. But during the last 20 years or so, the winners of the Gotham have had little impact on the Triple Crown. Previous winners of the Gotham include Native Dancer, who won a division of the inaugural Gotham in 1953; Dr. Fager, the 1967 winner and four-time champion in 1968; and probably the most known winner of the Gotham Stakes is Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner.
There will be no coloring of Hansen’s tail and mane in the Gotham Stakes in New York. We wonder if Hansen will next go to Hawthorne Racetrack and run in the Illinois Derby after their General Manager stated that they would allow Hansen’s tail to be “dyed” if there was money that was going to charity for the “dye job”. Will Kentucky Derby Tours participants be able to see Hansen run in the Derby with the “dye job” still there? Watch what happens on Saturday, April 7th, 2012 with Hansen’s tail if he runs in the Illinois Derby.
The field is big for the Gotham, but it is questionable as to how deep the field is. Hansen’s class advantage is clear and his race income puts him in the category of needing 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets at Churchill Downs. But this race, his post position will make winning a little more difficult than if Hansen had drawn inside. The good news for Hansen is that outside of possibly King and Crusader, none of his rivals possess anywhere near the natural speed that Hansen does. That should allow him to get to the front and over to the rail to avoid getting caught wide into the first turn.
