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.March 8 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct
Posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008
Next Saturday’s 56th running of the $250,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at 1 1/16 miles in Aqueduct figures to again be an important test for 3-year-olds with hopes of moving forward to the spring Classics and the 2008 Kentucky Derby Triple Crown trail.
The inner dirt track feature likely to draw a diverse group, including Albert Fried Jr.’s undefeated New York-bred Giant Moon and Zayat Stable’s Eaton’s Gift, winner of Gulfstream Park‘s Swale Stakes (gr. II).
Other probable starters are 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.
What could make the Gotham Stakes more interesting is the additions of Team Valor and Vision Racing LLC’s Visionaire and one or more from hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito’s powerful class of 3-year-olds.
Visionaire, a son of Grand Slam, won on opening day of Gulfstream Park’s current meet (January 4), after which Team Valor acquired a majority interest in the colt. Trained by Michael Matz, Visionaire has since run third to Pyro in the Risen Star (gr. III) at the Fair Grounds in Louisiana.
Michael Matz, who trained 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, may skip the Gotham Stakes in favor of the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park on March 15 for Visionaire.
Horse trainer Nick Zito, meanwhile, has four nominated to the Gotham Stakes. They are Tracy Farmer’s Aquarian, and three for owner Robert V. LaPenta: Coal Play, Larrys Revenge and Stevil.
Zito has already been a major force in the three-year-old picture this year, winning Gulfstream Park’s Fountain of Youth last week with Cool Coal Man; the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs with Fierce Wind; and 2007 Eclipse Award juvenile male champion War Pass, who is also one of the top 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders, romped in a Gulfstream allowance on Fountain of Youth day.
www.nyra.com
"March 8 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct" was posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 9:48 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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