Tipsheet: 2026 Gotham Stakes

A talented cast of eight sophomores will run one mile on the main course at Aqueduct in Saturday’s $300,000 Gotham (G3). The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the top five across the line with qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 layout. 

Gotham Stakes Picks

• #6 Iron Honor
• #1 Balboa
• #3 Crown the Buckeye
• #2 Hammond

Gotham Stakes Wagers

• $30 win #6 Iron Honor
• $1 superfecta key 6 with 1,2,3,7 

Gotham Stakes Contenders

#1 BALBOA: Stakes winner from the barn of Brittany Russell was third in the deep Remsen (G2) to conclude his juvenile season and comes off a good second in the Jerome S. last time out. The Not This Time colt has speed from the rail and rates an obvious chance with Sheldon Russell in the silks. 

#2 HAMMOND: Chestnut son of Charlatan has shown improvement with each lifetime run and has a top-three chance in his graded bow. The Saffie Joseph pupil closed well at seven panels at Gulfstream Park most recently, and it seems like the one-turn mile might be an ideal trip for the colt. Jaime Rodriguez will be in the irons. 

#3 CROWN THE BUCKEYE: Two-time stakes victor faded in the lane of the Lecomte (G3) most recently but fits in this field with something resembling his top effort. The Mike Maker trainee has posted a trio of solid morning drills in preparation for Saturday and will be in the mix from the break with Ricardo Santana, Jr. on board. 

#4 FOURTH AND ONE: New York-bred son of Maxfield was a non-factor in the Withers S. in his latest appearance and will need major improvement off of that to contend late in this endeavor. The gelding broke his maiden on the oval at the distance and could grab a share late with a lifetime best under Lezcano. 

#5 RIGHT TO PARTY: Constitution colt broke his maiden second time out on the course and jumps into the stakes ranks for McPeek. The late-running sophomore will need to get faster to be considered a win threat in the group, but he should have a swift and contested pace to rally at in the lane. Christopher Elliot will guide the exotics contender. 

#6 IRON HONOR: Top pick left a fine impression on me in his maiden win on debut and could have a very bright future for Chad Brown. The $475,000 son of Nyquist stretches out to eight furlongs in the tilt, and I expect him to thrive with the added ground on Saturday. Manny Franco retains the ride and will have the fine prospect in range throughout. 

#7 EXHIBITION ONLY: Complexity colt has shown good improvement since having blinkers added two back and comes off a dominant win while facing softer in advance of his stakes bow. The bay ran fast on the turf-to-dirt move in his victory and can’t be ignored as the potential one to catch at a price. Ruben Silvera will take the reins. 

#9 DIRTY RICH: Stakes winner from the Peter Miller barn was last in his lone prior route run leading up to this event and draws widest in the cast, too. The Thousand Words colt will be forwardly placed from the break, but he would be a surprise with Ramon Vazquez coming in to ride.