Aqueduct Saturday: Kentucky Derby Prep, Gotham Analysis

Saturday at Aqueduct will feature the Gotham. The race offers points toward the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby. The race looks wide open and ripe for an upset.

Kentucky Derby Saturday Prep Races

Betting News will bring coverage of all 4 Derby Preps this weekend.

• Fountain of Youth (Gulfstream Park)
• Gotham (Aqueduct)
• San Felipe (Santa Anita)
• John Battaglia (Turfway Park)

Gotham Full Card Selections

Aqueduct- Race 1

Post: 12:50 PM ET; $80k Maiden Special Weight going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #6 GIFTED (3-1) gets the top selection. She looks to be the class of the field. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #3 LIAM'S CHAMP (7-5) appears to be a major player in this race. She should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #4 TRYINMYHEARTOUT (10-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #5 PITCH CLOCK (5-2) debuts here and has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Geroux.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 4 – 5

Aqueduct- Race 2

Post: 1:20 PM ET; $80k Maiden Special Weight going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 TREATY OBLIGATION (1-1) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Franco.
• #4 GOOD RAPPORT (15-1) is a price horse and comes into the race in really good form. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #5 LIGHT THE WAY (12-1) comes into the race of a some really solid performances. This one could have a puncher’s chance.
• #3 WHENLOVETAKESOVER (6-1) isn't without hope. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.

Selections: 6 – 4 – 5 – 3

Aqueduct- Race 3

Post: 1:52 PM ET; $84k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 KINETIC SKY (3-1) looks best here. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #5 MARKET ALERT (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #2 UNCLE MOONLIGHT (7-2) could be in with a shot in this race. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #4 MILTON THE MONSTER (5-2) isn't without hope. He has back numbers that would get the job done here.

Selections: 6 – 5 – 2 – 4

Aqueduct- Race 4

Post: 2:20 PM ET; $200k Busher S. going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 6

• #3 ZIAERATI (9-5) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. She shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.
• #6 ASSET PURCHASE (2-1) has the top overall power rating in the group after a really solid debut effort.
• #5 SHIDABHUTI (5-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #2 CAPELLA (5-2) has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Geroux.

Selections: 3 – 6 – 5 – 2

Aqueduct- Race 5

Post: 2:55 PM ET; $50k Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 9

• #9 JALEN JOURNEY (9-2) is the top pick. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance and has been in really solid form.
• #4 OPTIC WAY (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #8 ADVANCED STRATEGY (5-2) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #5 GRUMPS LITTLE TOTS (6-1) will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.

Selections: 9 – 4 – 8 – 5

Aqueduct- Race 6

Post: 3:25 PM ET; $70k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 9

• #5 POP COYER (7-2) looks best here. He has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #8 SIGNAL CORPS (2-1) debuts here and should be competitive in this spot based on the morning line. David Aragona is usually spot on with the lines so this suggests plenty of backside buzz.
• #2 DISARMED (12-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #1 MAKAR (12-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 2 – 1

Aqueduct- Race 7

Post: 3:55 PM ET; $82k Allowance going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 12

• #7 ROTKNEE (5-2) gets the top selection. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 TRASH TALKER (10-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. He will likely be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire.
• #4 JAKE ROCKS (4-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He seems to fit well enough here. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #2B HANDSOME CAT (5-1) wouldn’t be a total surprise in this race. He looks to be the class of the field.

Selections: 7 – 5 – 4 – 2B

Aqueduct- Race 8

Post: 4:27 PM ET; $150k Tom Fool H. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #7 LITTLE VIC (6-1) is the top pick. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #5 PIRATE RICK (8-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #6 NAKATOMI (3-1) shouldn’t have any trouble with the sprint distance and drew well enough to get the right type of trip here.
• #2 CHATEAU (10-1) is a price horse and goes out for the Jacobson barn and gets Lezcano in the irons. This one has done well at the 6 furlong distance in the past.

Selections: 7 – 5 – 6 – 2

Aqueduct- Race 9

Post: 4:56 PM ET; $300k Gotham S. going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 15

• #10 LUGAN KNIGHT (6-1) will take his first shot at stakes company, but there are speed figures in the past performances that make him an absolute threat in a field that lacks a superstar.
• #5 CARMEL ROAD (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #11 SLIP MAHONEY (5-1) has races put him in the mix here. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #14 RECRUITER (12-1) is a price horse and has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.

Selections: 10- 5 – 11- 14

Aqueduct- Race 10

Post: 5:25 PM ET; $55k Starter Allowance going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 12

• #4 BOURBON READY (7-2) gets the top selection. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #3 CALLALOO (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. He comes into the race in really good form. This one is a grinder but the race may just set up for that.
• #10 MACH ONE (12-1) is a price horse and makes sense on speed figures. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Persaud and Harkie.
• #8 KING JAMES (8-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.

Selections: 4 – 3 – 10- 8