Gotham Stakes 2016 at Aqueduct Racetrack

OffTrackBetting.com - Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens' New York will be the scene of the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on Saturday, March 5. Some of the best three year olds in the land will take to Aqueduct's dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles searching for the winner's share of the $400,000 purse and the 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers.

A competitive field of eight have been confirmed for the Gotham Stakes - race 9 on Aqueduct's Saturday card. Post time is 4:50 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all eight combatants for this intriguing Road to the Kentucky Derby Grade 3 stakes.

2016 Gotham Stakes Race Preview

Shagaf 3-1 - Chad Brown trained colt has two career starts and two wins but steps up into stakes company for the first time Saturday. Last time out was a two length Allowance Optional Claiming score at Gulfstream Park January 29 after a maiden score at by an impressive six lengths first asking on this track November 22. Irad Ortiz has been tabbed with keeping Shagaf's perfect record intact Saturday as the slight morning line favorite from gate 2.

Sunny Ridge 7-2 - Jason Servis trained colt finished seventh in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga in July - in his second career start. He has looked better since - an impressive win last time out in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes on this track January 30 followed a second behind Exaggerator in the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot November 21, another second in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park in August and a win in the minor $100,000 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park September 6. Sunny Ridge has looked very good in his last four starts and is expected to be competitive again Saturday from post 7 with Manuel Franco in the irons of the morning line second choice.

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Rally Cry 5-1 - Todd Pletcher trained colt makes his stakes debut Saturday having posted a win and a pair of third place finishes in his three race career. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream Park January 29 after a three length maiden score on that same track in December and a maiden score at first asking - on this track in November. Rally Cry has been competitive so far and hopes to be again from the outside gate 8. Junior Alvarado has the mount.

Conquest Big E 6-1 - Mark Casse trained colt has five career starts with two wins and a second place finish. Last time out was an OK fourth behind Mohaymen in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park January 31 after one of his wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming by two lengths at Churchill Downs November 28, a somewhat disappointing eighth right behind Greenpointcrusader in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and a maiden score by 2 3/4 lengths in his second career start - at Keeneland in October. Conquest Big E will be after his first stakes win but has failed to place in his last two starts overall. Jose Ortiz will be in the saddle from gate 6.

Mo Power 6-1 - Todd Pletcher trained colt has two career starts - both at Gulfstream Park. Last time out was a maiden score January 30 after a runner-up finish in his debut January 19. Mo Power steps into stakes company for the first time Saturday in decent form. John Velazquez rides from post 5.

Laoban 15-1 - will hit the track for the fourth time for trainer Eric Guillot having recorded one second and one third place finish so far. Last time out was a troubled third in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita January 9 after a second in a MSW at Los Alamitos December 5. He was fifth in his debut November 15. Laoban has been decent in his last two starts and off a third in his graded stakes debut should be a confident entry. Aaron Gryder gets the call from the rail.

Adventist - Leah Gyarmati trained colt makes just his third career start Saturday having posted a win at first asking - on this track by an astounding 11 lengths as favorite December 19 and a reasonable third last time out in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes also here January 30. He enters off a bullet five-furlong move in 1:01 1/5 Feb. 28 on the Belmont training track. Adfventist has been competitive in both starts so far and hopes to be again Saturday with Kendrick Carmouche in the reins from post 3.

Vicento - has four career starts for trainer Rudy Rodriguez with two wins. He made his stakes debut February 6 and finished fourth in the minor Gender Stakes on this track. It followed an Allowance Optional Claiming score here January 31, a third in a similar race December 11 and a maiden score at first asking - at Belmont Park in October. Vicento has been OK so far but steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday. Angel Arroyo has the mount from gate 4.

2016 Gotham Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Aqueduct's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:50 PM.