This is the time on the calendar when Derby hopefuls should be concentrating on two-turn preps and qualifying points.
The Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Park on Saturday is a bit counter intuitive to this thinking.
The Gotham is contested as a one-turn mile; however, the winner does receive 50 Derby qualifying points, a total that should be good enough for a spot in The Run for the Roses.
The question is, can these milers handle the mile-and-a-quarter distance of the Kentucky Derby?
Here is a brief look at the field for the Gotham Stakes:
1. BALBOA [ML 6-1] Jockey: Sheldon Russell. Trainer: Brittany Russell. Enters off a 2nd-place finish in the Jerome Stakes, which was also ran at a flat mile on this track. Prior to that, a decent 3rd behind Derby prospect PALADIN in the Remsen Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. Could be a contender.
2. HAMMOND [ML 5-1] Jockey: Jaimie Rodriguez. Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. Ran 3rd at seven furlongs in the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park at a swift pace. Hasn’t won beyond 6 ½ furlongs, so getting the distance is a question mark.
3. CROWN THE BUCKEYE [ML 4-1] Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. Trainer: Mike Maker. Set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, then dropped anchor, finishing 8th. Two back he was a pacesetting 3rd in the Gun Runner Stakes at the same distance, losing by a little less than a length. Works have been sharp so perhaps a factor here.
4. FOURTH AND ONE [ML 20-1] Jockey: Jose Lezcano. Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart. Lost by nearly 32 lengths in the Withers Stakes at 1 1/8 miles here. Will need to vastly improve to vie for the top spot, should probably punt.
5. RIGHT TO PARTY [ML 8-1] Jockey: Chris Elliott. Trainer: Ken McPeek. Won a mile Maiden race here in his second start but the time was dawdling. A fast pace would help him fight.
6. IRON HORSE [ML 6-5] Jockey: Manny Franco. Trainer: Chad Brown. Won his six-furlong debut here and registered some impressive speed figures. That said, he has the speed to win, and his breeding indicates he can handle an additional quarter mile. A worthy favorite.
7. EXHIBTION ONLY [ML 15-1] Jockey: Ruben Silvera. Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez. Closed out his 2-year-old season with three losses on turf, reverted back to dirt to kick off 2026 and romped by 7 ¾ lengths in a Maiden race. A test of class here as he dives into deeper water.
8. CREOLE CHROME [SCRATCHED] Jockey: Jaime Torres. Trainer: Joe Sharp. Will race at Fair Grounds.
9. DIRTY RICH [ML 10-1] Jockey: Ramon Vazquez. Trainer: Peter Miller. Was crushed in the final furlong by OBLITERATION in a six-furlong Stakes race at Oaklawn Park. Know him early.
The $300,000-dollar Gotham Stakes is the last race on a card of ten with a scheduled Post Time of 5:20.
Best of luck however you play it.
