Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack

Las Vegas, NV - Aqueduct Race Track in the great state of New York plays host to a trio of graded stakes races this Saturday, March 2 - the biggest being the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes for three year olds looking for some momentum and much needed qualifying points on their "Road to the Kentucky Derby" A nice purse of $400,000 will be on the line for those willing to go 1 1/16 lies on Aqueduct's inner dirt track.

A large field of 12 Kentucky Derby hopefuls will line up in the Gotham Stakes - race 10 on Aqueduct's jam-packed Saturday card. Post time is 5:02 PM. Let's take a glance into the credentials of all 12 entries for this most important points gathering Grade 3 stakes.

2013 Gotham Stakes Race Favorites

Overanalyze - Todd Pletcher entry that has three wins and a third place finish in five career starts. He started with a Maiden Special Weight score at Saratoga on August 9, finished fourth in the Grade 2 Three Chimneys Hopeful behind early Kentucky Derby favorite Shanghai Bobby and followed that up with an impressive win in the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park September 30. Last time out was another impressive win in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes here November 24 after an OK third as 9-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes October 28. He is an exciting prospect but has drawn the outside position for the Gotham - most think it won't be a problem however.

Vyjack - has only three career starts but has won all on this track - a Maiden Special Weight in his career debut November, the Traskwood Stakes December 9 and the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes over Siete de Oros last time out January 5. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has a real Derby contender on his hands - it will be interesting to see if Vyjack can keep his roll going Saturday.

Gotham Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries

Escapefromreality - has just three career starts with a maiden score by 3 1/2 lengths in his debut, a second in an Allowance December 28 and a nice second last time out in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes - all results coming on this track.

Amerigo Vespucci - won his first two career starts and finished second in his next two including the minor Marylander Stakes and in the James Lewis III Stakes. Last time out was a close fourth in the Grade 3 Withers on this track after a respectable third behind Siete de Oros in the Grade 2 Jerome here January 5. He has the pedigree and the distance to challenge this weekend but has some pretty tough competition to contend with.

Siete de Oros - has six career starts with two wins - a Maiden Claiming and an Allowance at Parx, he has a second in the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes at 41-1 odds here January 5 behind Vyjack. He also had two third place finishes recently - last time out in the Grade 3 Withers and in the minor Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at Parx December 8. Siete de Oros has placed in his last five starts and with a second and two thirds in stakes races - he is one to keep an eye on in the Gotham.

Gotham Stakes betting at Aqueduct with OffTrackBetting.com

Ore Pass - has three career starts with two wins - a MSW score in his debut at Laurel Park November 24 and in the minor Frank Whiteley Stakes at Laurel Park January 19. Sandwiched in there is a fifth in an Allowance at Parx January 5.

Transparent - Kiaran McLaughlin colt has six starts - all MSW races. Last time out he broke maiden on this track January 26 after a second behind Revolutionary in a maiden race December 28. He has a win a second and one third place finish in six career starts.

West Hills Giant - had two straight wins in the summer - a MSW at Saratoga in his second career start was followed by a nice win in the New York Breeders' Futurity September 29. He had a disappointing seventh in his graded stakes debut two back - in the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park in October but most recently had a third in the minor Java Gold Stakes here February 10.

Sky Captain - Mark Casse pupil will race in stakes company for the first time with one win and one second place finish in four career starts. The win came in a MSW three back by 10 1/4 lengths and the second was in an Allowance Optional Claiming behind Cerro last time out here January 26.

Now and Then - has just one career start for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin - a MSW score on this track January 20.

Elnaawi - yet another Kiaran McLaughlin trainee has two career starts with a MSW win last time out and a third place finish in a MSW December 8.

Champion Boy - has just two career starts for trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero - a third place finish in a MSW race on this track January 20 was followed by a fifth last time out here in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes February 2.

2013 Gotham Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Aqueduct Racetrack's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:02 PM.