The road to the Wood Memorial continues in New York with the Gotham Stakes. Shagaf and Rally Cry take on Withers winner Sunny Ridge.
2016 Gotham Field
Laoban is still a maiden and has entered a couple of stakes races and scratched. Shipping cross country for connections who do well in New York. Facing other speed in the race and classier horses. Has talent but just not ready for this type of race at this time.
Shagaf has dominated a couple of races. His maiden breaker in November was a wow race defeating experienced maiden foes by 6 lengths. The runner-up It’s All Releveant came back to win at Gulfstream. Distance breeding over speed breeding. Won the Gulfstream race with only 4 workouts on the tab. Was taken in hand down the stretch. Most likely to run a 90 speed rating. Distance is perfect for 2nd prep of season and moving up in class. 3rd lifetime race offers potential for a huge uptick in performance. Upside is a top 10 contender for the the classic races.
Adventist has trained forwardly for this spot and has impressed visually in both lifetime races. In his debut he kicked away for the dominant victory at 6 furlongs. In the Withers stakes he broke a little slow and raced wide throughout the race on a race flow that was dominated by the speed. Off the pace runner looks like he is improving but facing several other talented runners.
Vincento entered as a surprise nomination coming off a 9 length loss facing weaker competition. Running style does not fit this race. Not enough speed to take the lead and not enough punch to finish late at this class level. Longshot.
Mo Power is another son of Uncle Mo, one of 3 in the race. Solid maiden win in last race and probably has a future as a power sprinter miler type. Dipping his toes in with the big boys off the maiden win is always a tough challenge.
Conquest Big E Escapes the heat of Gulfstream after getting a little heated up in last race. Has worked twice since last race and rallied wide that day. Dominating wins have been in slop. Needs to run well on a fast track. Has hinted at talent. Big bodied horse who carries a lot of weight. Type of horse who should do well in big field and needs to be raced into shape. Expecting a big effort. Should get a solid pace but has the speed to lay within 5 lengths of the leaders.
Sunny Ridge earned a hard fought win in the Withers Stakes. The Withers pace unfolded dramatically in favor of the speed horses and the horses ran 1-2 pretty much around the track. Competition is tougher in the Gotham and faces other quality speed in Rally Cry. Think he finishes off the board in a spot like this.
Rally Cry gets the rematch with Shagaf and was bet down after a solid warm up at Gulfstream in last weeking. Got stuck at the rail and waited room twice before getting cut off and then had to check and rally wide and tire late. Has been bet in all 3 of his races including 2/5 last fall at Aqueduct. Son of Uncle Mo out of Gone West should love the distance and has already established his class. Consistent workouts for this this and should like the cooler weather. See him as the speed of the race and sent from the outside post.
The Choice: This is a quality race with Sunny Ridge being in form. Shagaf and Rally Cry have potential and Conquest Big E is potentially looking for a break-out race. I’m leaning on Shagaf for the win but expect Conquest Big E to run a huge in cooler weather and racing himself into shape.