March 8 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct

Posted on Thursday, March 6th, 2008

Despite a perfect 4-for-4 record, Al Fried Jr.’s Giant Moon faces the most important start of his young career in Saturday’s 56th running of the $250,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles over the inner track at Aqueduct.

With no graded stakes earnings to fall back on, New York-bred Giant Moon needs to start accumulating money in that category if he is to make the May 3rd 2008 Kentucky Derby. Any bad luck in the Gotham Stakes could severely impact his chances of making the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

From Giant Moon’s four victories, there is little reason to believe that he will run a bad race Saturday. On or near the pace in every race so far, the son of Giant’s Causeway has fought hard to victories in the Sleepy Hollow, Damon Runyon and Count Fleet, with the latter his only try in open company.

Richard Schosberg, trainer of Giant Moon, elected to skip the February 2nd Whirlaway Stakes to have a fresher horse for the run to the Kentucky Derby.

“We haven’t missed a beat with him,” said horse trainer Richard Schosberg, who has gotten lucky with a fairly mild and dry winter in New York. “He looks terrific.”

Schosberg’s biggest concern Saturday is a forecast for heavy rain, which, depending on the time of the storm, could mean the Gotham might be run over a sloppy track. Giant Moon won the Sleepy Hollow over a “good” drying out track in October at Belmont Park.

“I’m hoping their predictions are slightly off,” Schosberg said. “If all that rain comes Saturday afternoon, it will be a much different track than the one he won over in the Sleepy Hollow.”

Giant Moon may have to go about things a bit differently than he has in his first four starts. With a number of stretch-out speed horses lined up for the Gotham, Giant Moon could be about four or five lengths back in the early stages of the race. To this point, he has never been farther back than a length early on.

“We were prepared for that scenario last time, but he inherited a clear stalking position off a moderate pace,” Schosberg said. “Somewhere along the way he’s going to be outrun early.”

Ramon Dominguez, aboard Giant Moon for the Damon Runyon and Count Fleet wins, will be entrusted by Schosberg to find the best spot for the colt.

“Horses have to deal with adversity,” Schosberg said when asked about his trainee coming from farther back and the potential for a wet track. “Any advantage we have is that he has proven himself around two turns over this track.”

Half of the 10 horses entered for the Gotham Stakes made their last start out of town. Of those five, the one coming in with the best credentials is Visionaire, owned by Team Valor and Vision Racing.

Visionaire is probably the only member of the Gotham Stakes field that one could consider is taking a drop in class. The Grand Slam colt was beaten just 2 3/4 lengths in his last start, the Grade 3 Risen Star, by Pyro and Z Fortune, two of the leading Kentucky Derby contenders.

Prior to his strong effort in the Risen Star, Visionaire impressively broke his maiden at Laurel in November and then took an entry-level allowance by 5 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream in early January.

Michael Matz, who trained 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, has been conditioning Visionaire at the Palm Meadows training facility in Florida. He will use jockey Jose Lezcano in the Gotham Stakes. Lezcano was aboard for the Gulfstream Park allowance and Risen Star.

“I was very pleased with his race in the Risen Star,” Matz said. “It was his first time around two turns and he only got beat 2 3/4 lengths by some nice horses. Each time he’s run, he’s improved.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher will attack the Gotham Stakes with three starters in an attempt to get a better gauge on some of his 3-year-olds.

After 5 sprint starts, Dogwood Stable’s Holidaze improved in his first race around two turns when he won an entry-level allowance going away at the end for horse trainer Todd Pletcher.

Texas Wildcatter comes into the Gotham Stakes off a decent third-place finish in the Whirlaway Stakes behind Barrier Reef and Roman Emperor.

Southern Terminus ships up from Florida after finishing second as the 3-5 favorite behind Fierce Wind, who returned to win the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Southern Terminus may represent Pletcher’s best chance at a Gotham win.

West Point Stables’ Saratoga Russell is one of a few horses that should ensure a fast pace in the Gotham Stakes. The son of Trippi comes off runaway wins in an Aqueduct maiden race and a Florida-bred allowance at Gulfstream Park. He will make his first start beyond six furlongs in the Gotham Stakes.

Also stretching out in distance are Ling Ling Qi and Larrys Revenge, who were first and third in a Gulfstream Park allowance last month. Ling Ling Qi sat a perfect trip in that race while Larrys Revenge battled three-deep for the lead.

The field for Saturday’s $250,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III):

Giant Moon under jockey Ramon Dominguez carries 120 lbs.
Laysh Laysh Laysh under jockey Mario Pino, 116 lbs.
Roman Emperor under jockey Jeremy Rose, 116 lbs.
Saratoga Russell under jockey Eibar Coa, 116 lbs.
Southern Terminus under jockey Stewart Elliott, 116 lbs.
Holidaze under jockey Michael Luzzi, 116 lbs.
Texas Wildcatter under jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr., 116 lbs.
Larrys Revenge under jockey Joe Bravo, 116 lbs.
Ling Ling Qi under jockey Rajiv Maragh, 116 lbs.
Visionaire under jockey Jose Lezcano, 116 lbs.

www.nyra.com

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