Kentucky Derby Prep Races: 2025 Gotham Stakes

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Kentucky Derby Prep Races News

Gotham Stakes Draws Competitive Field of 10 at Aqueduct

The Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct has drawn a field of 10 three-year-olds eager to earn valuable points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. As the race unfolds, the Gotham will distribute 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers, bringing contenders closer to a potential start in the Kentucky Derby.

This one-turn mile contest presents a mix of promising stakes winners and new faces testing their talent in open company. For many, this will be their first time competing in a Kentucky Derby Prep Races. The Gotham is scheduled as race 8 of 10 on Saturday’s card, with post time set for 4:18 p.m. EST.

Undefeated Sand Devil Steps Into Open Company

Among the leading contenders is Sand Devil, an unbeaten New York-bred colt trained by Linda Rice. With three consecutive wins at Aqueduct, including a recent stakes victory, Sand Devil has proven his ability to handle this track. His racing style features tactical speed, allowing him to sit just behind the leaders before making his move. He enters this race as a legitimate win contender.

Another undefeated runner making his open-company debut is Sacrosanct, who is four-for-four against state-breds. The Brad Cox trainee has dominated his competition by a combined 17 lengths, showing early speed and the ability to carry it through longer distances. This will be his first start of the year, and his performance could provide insight into his potential beyond restricted races.

Garamond and McAfee Look to Make a Statement

Chad Brown sends out Garamond, a Juddmonte homebred son of Uncle Mo who won impressively on debut at Tampa Bay Downs. Although he has only one start, he boasts strong breeding and trains under one of the sport’s top conditioners. With a strong pedigree and Javier Castellano aboard, Garamond could take a significant step forward in his first try on the Kentucky Derby trail.

McAfee, trained by Rick Dutrow, has shown potential with a win at Churchill Downs and a close runner-up finish in a starter allowance. He is a half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, giving him plenty of pedigree upside. He has been training at Belmont Park since November and could be an interesting option for exotics.

Other Notable Contenders

Scorching, an Ontario-bred, won a stakes race at Woodbine last season and has been training at Belmont since January. His versatility on different surfaces makes him a wildcard in this field. Furthermore, Normandy Coast enters with back-to-back wins, including an allowance score at Fair Grounds. Notably, he has shown the ability to run well on the front end, which could put him in a strong early position.

Meanwhile, My Mitole steps into graded company after back-to-back victories at Aqueduct. With his proven ability to handle this track and decisive turn of foot, he could be a legitimate long shot.

Pace Projection and Final Thoughts

With multiple front-runners in the field, the Gotham is expected to have a fast pace, which could benefit late runners like Garamond and McAfee, who have proven their ability to close effectively. Sand Devil and Sacrosanct will likely race near the front, facing a test of their ability to sustain their dominance against stronger competition.

This field features a mix of promising young talent, but only one horse has prior experience in a graded stakes race. The Gotham presents a prime opportunity for an up-and-coming runner to establish himself on the Kentucky Derby trail.

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