Enticed bounces back in Gotham

Mar 11, 2018 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

After a disappointing season debut in last month's Holy Bull (G2), Enticed bounced back with authority in Saturday's $300,000 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct for owner-breeder Godolphin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Enticed was never more than 3 1/4 lengths behind the dueling pair of Cove Blue and Old Time Revival, but was stuck five wide entering the far turn. Bidding into contention approaching the quarter pole, Enticed entered the stretch two lengths behind Old Time Revival, who had shaken off his early rival after a pace of :23.14, :46.43, and 1:11.77.

Still looking rather strong in upper stretch was the 34-1 shot Old Time Revival, but Enticed chipped away at the lead, forged clear inside the final furlong and won wrapped up by 2 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:38.24 for a mile on a fast track.

'I wanted to make sure to be a little close, but I felt the first part of the race we were going a little fast for the way the track was playing today,' Alvarado said. 'I wanted to make sure I kept him clear on the outside, I didn't want to get him in trouble at all because he's a horse that takes a while to get going.

'As soon as we turned for home, I knew it was just a matter of time when he switched leads for him to give me that next gear. As soon as he started moving along again he was much the best horse today.'

The 3-1 third choice, Enticed paid $8.80. Old Time Revival was four lengths clear of 17-10 favorite Free Drop Billy, while second choice Firenze Fire finished fourth.

As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, the Gotham rewarded qualifying points of 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers. Enticed's total was boosted to 63 points, a sufficient amount to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate at Churchill on the first Saturday in May.

A debut winner at Saratoga last September, Enticed next ran third to Firenze Fire in the Champagne (G1), but gutted out a head victory over Tiz Mischief in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill. However, he was never in the running as the 19-10 favorite in the February 3 Holy Bull, finishing a distant fourth behind Audible.

'We'll talk to Jimmy Bell and hopefully look at the ([G2] on April 7),' McLaughlin said. 'I've got to talk to Jimmy about bringing him back down here [at Palm Meadows] and train and then fly him back for the Wood Memorial. He did well down here in Florida.'

By Medaglia d'Oro, Enticed is out of the multiple Grade 1 winner It's Tricky, by Mineshaft. He's now earned $410,680.

(Adam Coglianese Photography)