Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Giant Moon Heads The Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 8
Posted on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008
Giant Moon’s name may not be featured prominently on many early 2008 Kentucky Derby polls. On one national racing publication’s list, he is No. 23 at 50-1; on another, he is not even mentioned, while on a wire service poll he is included only among horses “to keep an eye on.”
Giant Moon is trained by Richard Schosberg who’s hoping that this Saturday, bay son of Giant’s Causeway, who ran his record to 4-0 with a victory in the Count Fleet Stakes in January, will have the attention he deserves and be considered as one of the leading 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders.
“He’s on the outside looking in, which is as it should be,” said horse trainer Richard Schosberg. “Hopefully, after Saturday, he’ll be on the inside, looking out.”
Saturday is the 59th running of the $250,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at 1 1/16 miles, the first major New York stepping-stone to the 134th Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. At a mile and a sixteenth, the Gotham Stakes serves as the traditional prep for the biggest race of Aqueduct’s spring meet, $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) at nine furlongs on April 5.It’s a road Richard Schosberg has started down before. In 1993, he saddled As Indicated to victory in the Gotham Stakes, only to have the horse get hurt in the Wood Memorial. In 1995, 2-year-old champion Maria’s Mon was kept off the Triple Crown trail with an injury.
“It’s like anything else – whenever you are with a bunch of people who don’t know horse racing, the only thing they want to know is if you’ve ever won the Kentucky Derby,” said Schosberg, who trains the New York-bred Giant Moon for owner-breeder Albert Fried Jr. “It’s exciting to think about, but I have a lot of things to think about.”
Photo by Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Thinking about Giant Moon, however, brings a smile to Schosberg’s face. From a well-bred but somewhat lethargic 2-year-old – at least in the mornings — the colt has blossomed into a mature athlete whose psyche, says Schosberg, has finally caught up with his ability.
“I couldn’t be happier with him” said Schosberg. “He’s stepped up every time we’ve asked.”
On the heels of his maiden victory last September, Giant Moon pulled off a mild upset when he took the Sleepy Hollow Stakes on New York Showcase Day, then went wire-to-wire to win the Damon Runyon, also for state-breds, in December. In his first start in open company, he came from just off the pace to take the Count Fleet Stakes, the same race 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones used to kick off his 3-year-old campaign.
The only thing he has yet to prove, said Schosberg, is whether he can rate.
“Basically, he hasn’t done that yet,” he said. “In his last race, he was just off Spanky Fischbein. He has a lot to prove in the Gotham.”
Another thing to consider is that the Gotham will be eight weeks since Giant Moon last ran, a move Schosberg said was by design.
“I didn’t see any reason to dance every dance if we want to be in peak form in May,” he said.
Especially on the first Saturday.
NOTES: Also likely for the Gotham are Zayat Stable’s Eaton’s Gift, winner of Gulfstream Park’s Grade 2 Swale; Lansdon B. Robbin III’s Ling Ling Qi; Puglisi Stable’s Roman Emperor; West Point Stable’s Saratoga Russell; Rhineshire Farm’s Southern Terminus and Stonerside Stable’s Texas Wildcatter. Questionable are Team Valor and Vision Racing LLC’s Visionaire. Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito is also expected to run at least one of his four Gotham nominees: Tracy Farmer’s Aquarian, and three for owner Robert V. LaPenta: Coal Play, Larrys Revenge and Stevil.
www.nyra.com
"Giant Moon Heads The Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 8" was posted on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 6:35 pm and is filed under Aqueduct, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Friday, March 7th, 2008 7:11 pm By June Boydston
wOULD REALLY like to see a picture of Giant Moon