Study Guide: 2025 Gotham Stakes

Feb 24, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

The penultimate leg of Aqueduct’s six-race Road to the Kentucky Derby series is Saturday’s $300,000 Gotham (G3), worth 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers.

The one-mile dirt race serves as a stepping stone to Aqueduct’s Wood Memorial (G2) on April 5.

A 10-horse field has entered the Gotham. Let’s take a tour through the entries:

Scorching

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch
Breeder: Huntington Stud Farm
Trainer: John Charalambous
Jockey: Eric Cancel

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning the Simcoe S. at Woodbine.
Total Earnings: $210,877

Sire: Mo Town
Dam: Samsal
Color: Dark bay/brown

Scorching has shown strong form on synthetic and turf, winning the Simcoe S. and Cup and Saucer S. at Woodbine. But he’s yet to race on dirt, so switching surfaces is a question mark.

Normandy Coast

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Eric Kenneally, Brian Chenvert, and Eddie Kenneally
Breeder: Haymarket Farm
Trainer: Eddie Kenneally
Jockey: Ben Curtis

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $83,600

Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Alliteration
Color: Bay

Normandy Coast recently ended a long layoff with a neck triumph in a six-furlong $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds. He’s progressing in the right direction, but stepping up in class and distance are meaningful obstacles to overcome.

Calling Card

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Breeder: Spruce Lane Farm, Manlius Stable, Built Wright Stables, et al.
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight against New York-breds.
Total Earnings: $75,350

Sire: Complexity
Dam: Graceful Rage
Color: Dark bay/brown

Calling Card made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut with an eighth-place finish in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds. But now he’s returning to Aqueduct, where he obliterated a one-mile maiden special weight for New York-breds last fall by 17 1/4 lengths. A rebound isn’t out of the question.

Sacrosanct

Start(s): 4
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Lady Sheila Stable, Net Birdie, and Schwing Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Burleson Farms, McKenzie Bloodstock, and Sequel Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning the Bertram F. Bongard S. at Aqueduct
Total Earnings: $503,250

Sire: Honest Mischief
Dam: Vibrato
Color: Bay

Sacrosanct is undefeated in four starts against New York-bred rivals. He’s won the Bertram F. Bongard S., Sleepy Hollow S., and Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series S. in succession. Brisnet Speed ratings suggest Sancrosanct is fast enough to challenge for a fifth straight win, even while stepping outside the New York-bred ranks.

Sand Devil

Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Chester Broman Sr.
Breeder: Chester Broman and Mary R. Broman
Trainer: Linda Rice
Jockey: Jose Lezcano

Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning the Damon Runyon S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $151,800

Sire: Violence
Dam: Mineralogist
Color: Chestnut

Sand Devil has gone 3-for-3 against New York-breds, most recently winning the Damon Runyon S. in determined fashion. He owns three of the four fastest Brisnet Speed ratings in the Gotham field and looms as the horse to beat for the hot jockey/trainer duo of Jose Lezcano and Linda Rice.

Pagode

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Bonne Chance Farm
Breeder: Bonne Chance Farm
Trainer: Paulo Lobo
Jockey: Luan Machado

Top Speed Rating: (76) when winning a Turfway Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $46,953

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Pretty Girl
Color: Chestnut

Pagode rallied to win his debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on synthetic at Turfway Park, but the 76 Brisnet Speed rating he received looks light against the Gotham field.

Flood Zone

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Al Figliolia Westbury Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight against Florida-breds.
Total Earnings: $38,800

Sire: Frosted
Dam: Curls for Girls
Color: Bay

Flood Zone threw down a flashy 94 Brisnet Speed rating when conquering Florida-bred rivals in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. Can he repeat that number while stepping up in class and distance? It’s a tough ask, but Flood Zone may be talented enough to handle the challenge.

McAfee

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stable, Judy B. Hicks, and Scott C. Rice
Breeder: Judy Hicks
Trainer: Rick Dutrow Jr.
Jockey: Lane Luzzi

Top Speed Rating: (83) when finishing second in a Churchill Downs $50,000 starter allowance.
Total Earnings: $68,880

Sire: Cloud Computing
Dam: Sataves
Color: Dark bay/brown

A half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna, McAfee won his debut before finishing second in a $50,000 starter allowance. His Brisnet Speed ratings look a little light, but perhaps McAfee can step forward in his first race of 2025.

Hey @PatMcAfeeShow!

How about a horse with your name in the 151st @KentuckyDerby? McAfee is a 1/2 brother to Kentucky Oaks winner, Thorpedo Anna! pic.twitter.com/2eguiYjxIu

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 1, 2024

Garamond

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Juddmonte
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (79) when winning a Tampa Bay Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $18,880

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Blue Watch
Color: Bay

Garamond debuted victorious in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs. He’ll need to improve upon his 79 Brisnet Speed rating to challenge against the Gotham field, but that’s not out of the question—he’s bred to relish stretching out over one mile.

My Mitole

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Half Hollow Stables
Breeder: William B. Harrigan
Trainer: Carlos Martin
Jockey: Luis Rivera Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning an Aqueduct $50,000 starter optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $90,350

Sire: Mitole
Dam: Board Battle
Color: Chestnut

My Mitole is 2-for-2 racing one mile at Aqueduct, most recently trouncing a $50,000 starter optional claimer by 5 1/4 lengths. Don’t count this improving son of champion Mitole out of the mix.