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Gotham Stakes
Gotham Stakes Race History
The Gotham Stakes is one of the prep races for the Wood Memorial and is also part of The Road to the Kentucky Derby. It is restricted to three-year-olds.
Initially inaugurated at the Jamaica Racetrack located in Queens in 1953, the Gotham Stakes was eventually moved to Aqueduct Racetrack in 1960. It has remained there to this day and has become one of the marquee races
The original and current distance of the Gotham Stakes is 1 1/16th miles. However, when the race moved to Aqueduct in 1960, organizers reset the distance to 1 mile. The distance of the Gotham Stakes has been run at 1 mile during four different eras from 1960-1976, in 1978, 1980-2002 and 2004-2005. It has also been run at 1 mile 70 yards in 1984 and 2003. Outside of those years the contest has covered a distance of 1 1/16th miles.
I Want Revenge established the speed record at 1 1/16th miles in 2009 when he was clocked at 1:42.65. The legendary Easy Goer set both the stakes and track record at 1 mile with a time of 1:32.40 in 1989.
Easy Goer would move on to finish second in the Kentucky Derby, after success in the Gotham Stakes. Similarly, horses to have won both include Dr. Fager (1967) and Secretariat (1973). Hall of Famer Native Dancer won the initial Gotham Stakes in 1953 and would go on to win the Preakness and Belmont Stakes later that year.
The Gotham Stakes was run in two divisions in 1953, 1974, 1975 and 1983 so the race has two winners from each of those years. The 1992 renewal also produced dual winners, but this was due to a dead heat between Lure and Devil His Due.
A total of five jockeys currently share the record for most wins in the Gotham Stakes with three apiece. This includes Mike Smith, Richard Migliore, Jacinto Vasquez, Angel Cordero Jr., and Jorge Velasquez. Claud mcGuaghey III is the standalone trainer with the most wins in this race with three victories generated in 1989, 1992 and 2005.
The Gotham Stakes is worth a purse of $400,000 and is currently holds a rating of Grade-III.
13, 2015 and 2016.
Gotham Stakes Betting
The Gotham Stakes (G3) is a 1 mile race for 3-year-olds held in Queens, New York at Aqueduct Racetrack. The race in early March is part of the Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with the top four finishers earning qualifying points (50-20-10-4) and the winner securing a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. In 2017, the purse was reduced from $400,000 to $300,000. The Gotham had been contested at 1 1/16 miles since 2006, and reverted back to a 1 mile race in 2018 after previously run at 1 mile for nearly 40 years.
The inaugural race was in 1953, and the fastest 1 mile time was set by Easy Goer (1:32.40) in 1989 when he smashed the record set previously in 1973 by Secretariat. Easy Goer went off at 1-20 odds in the Gotham, and then went on to win the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on his way to 2nd place finishes in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Easy Goer then won five consecutive Grade 1 races – the Belmont Stakes, Whitney Handicap, Travers, Woodward Handicap and Jockey Club Gold Cup. The Hall of Fame son of Alydar, Easy Goer finished 2nd in the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) as part of a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest winners of the Gotham Stakes. Native Dancer (1953), Secretariat (1973) and Lure (1992) are some other Hall of Fame race horses that won the Gotham.
The Gotham is the final local prep for the 1 1/8 mile Wood Memorial held in April. In analyzing the field for the Gotham, some of the runners will have competed in the 1 1/8 Withers a month prior at Aqueduct. However, with runners reverting back to a 1 mile race in the Gotham, a better race to handicap may be the 1 mile Jerome Stakes held at Aqueduct in January.
Follow the trainers, comments, track bias and horses working well as you prepare to handicap and bet the Gotham Stakes. The weather won’t be as cold as earlier Derby preps at Aqueduct, but the surface and condition needs to be evaluated knowing that the 2015 Gotham was held over a muddy track.
Read More on the Gotham Stakes:
Gotham Stakes Archives from BRISnet.com
Gotham Stakes Past Winners
| Year (Race No.) | Winner (Sex) | Time (Cond.-Beyer) | Gross Purse-Gr. |
| Dis.-Track (Starters) | Owner(s) | Odds (Margin) | Winner’s Share |
| 2016-March 5 (9th) | Shagaf* (c) | 1:45.90 (fast-87) | $400,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (7) | Shadwell Stable | 1.25-1 (1 ¼ lengths) | $240,000—64 |
| 2015-March 7 (9th) | El Kabeir* (c) | 1:45.56 (muddy-89) | $400,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (10) | Zayat Stables LLC | 1.30-1 (2 ¾ lengths) | $240,000—63 |
| 2014-March 1 (9th) | Samraat* (c) | 1:44.44 (fast-96) | $500,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (9) | My Meadowview Farm | 2.20-1 (neck) | $300,000—62 |
| 2013-March 2 (10th) | Vyjack (g) | 1:44.09 (fast-93) | $400,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (11) | Pick Six Racing | 2.35-1 (2 ¼ lengths) | $240,000—61 |
| 2012-March 3 (10th) | Hansen* (c) | 1:43.84 (good-95) | $400,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (13) | Dr. Kendall Hansen & Harvey Diamond | 0.80-1 (3 lengths) | $240,000—60 |
| 2011-March 5 (10th) | Stay Thirsty* (c) | 1:44.78 (fast-89) | $250,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (7) | Repole Stable | 0.90-1 (3 ¼ lengths) | $150,000—59 |
| 2010-March 6 (10th) | Awesome Act* (r) | 1:43.85 (fast-98) | $250,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (10) | Mrs. Susan Roy & Vinery Stables | 2.85-1 (1 ¼ lengths) | $150,000—58 |
| 2009-March 7 (9th) | +I Want Revenge (c) | 1:42.65 (fast-113) | $250,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (9) | David Joseph Lanzman | 3.15-1 (8 ½ lengths) | $150,000—57 |
| 2008-March 8 (9th) | Visionaire (c) | 1:44.60 (fast-98) | $250,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (9) | Team Valor International & Vision Racing LLC | 4.50-1 (nose) | $150,000—56 |
| 2007-March 10 (8th) | Cowtown Cat (c) | 1:44.75 (fast-88) | $200,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (9) | WinStar Farm & Gulf Coast Farms | 2.35-1 (2 ½ lengths) | $120,000—55 |
| 2006-March 18 (9th) | Like Now (g) | 1:43.17 (fast-105) | $200,000-Gr. III |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Aqu (10) | John Dillon | 36.25-1 (neck) | $120,000—54 |
| 2005-March 19 (9th) | Survivalist (c) | 1:35.61 (fast-92) | $150,000-Gr. III |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (9) | Phipps Stable | 3.45-1 (3/4 length) | $90,000—53 |
| 2004-March 20 (7th) | Saratoga County (c) | 1:35.53 (good-96) | $200,000-Gr. III |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (8) | Evelyn Pollard | 4.70-1 (2 ¼ lengths) | $120,000—52 |
| 2003-March 16 (9th) | Alysweep (c) | 1:40.60 (fast-103) | $200,000-Gr. III |
| 1 Mile 70Y-Aqu (9) | Mark Doneson & Michael Dubb | 9.50-1 (4 ¼ lengths) | $120,000—51 |
| 2002-March 17 (9th) | Mayakovsky (c)* | 1:34.90 (fast-102) | $200,000-Gr. III |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (7) | Michael Tabor | 0.75-1 (3 ¾ lengths) | $120,000—50 |
| 2001-March 18 (9th) | Richly Blended (c) | 1:35.14 (fast-101) | $200,000-Gr. III |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (8) | Raymond Dweck | 3.40-1 (5 ¼ lengths) | $120,000—49 |
| 2000-March 19 (9th) | Red Bullet* (c) | 1:34.27 (fast-100) | $200,000-Gr. III |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (9) | Stronach Stables | 1.05-1 (1/2 length) | $120,000—48 |
| 1999-March 21 (9th) | Badge (c) | 1:34.72 (fast-104) | $150,000-Gr. III |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (11) | Southbelle Stable | 11.80-1 (7 ½ lengths) | $90,000—47 |
| 1998-March 21 (8th) | Wasatch (c) | 1:36.56 (sloppy-97) | $150,000-Gr. III |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (10) | Frank Calabrese | 7.30-1 (2 ¼ lengths) | $90,000—46 |
| 1997-March 29 (8th) | Smokin Mel (c) | 1:34.38 (fast-101) | $200,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (11) | Sidney Port | 15.60-1 (1/2 length) | $120,000—45 |
| 1996-March 30 (8th) | Romano Gucci (g) | 1:34.40 (muddy-103) | $201,200-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (10) | Herbert Kushner | 4.30-1 (1/2 length) | $120,000—44 |
| 1995-March 25 (8th) | +Talkin Man (c) | 1:36.82 (fast-110) | $250,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (11) | Kinghaven Farms | 7.20-1 (7 lengths) | $150,000—43 |
| 1994-March 26 (7th) | +Irgun* (c) | 1:36.27 (fast-105) | $250,000-Gr. III |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (12) | Marianne Chase | 1.70-1 (6 lengths) | $150,000—42 |
| 1993-April 3 (9th) | As Indicated (g) | 1:36.24 (good-100) | $200,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (8) | Heatherwood Farm | 3.80-1 (neck) | $120,000—41 |
| 1992-April 4 (8th) | DH-Lure* (c) | 1:35.63 (fast-100) | $250,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (8) | Claiborne Farm | 0.60-1 (4 ½ lengths) | $102,500—40 |
| +DH-Devil His Due (c) | 10.90-1 | $102,500 | |
| Lion Crest Stable | |||
| 1991-April 6 (8th) | Kyle’s Our Man (c) | 1:34.69 (fast) | $250,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (8) | Darby Dan Farm | 3.20-1 (4 lengths) | $150,000—39 |
| 1990-April 7 (8th) | +Thirty Six Red (c) | 1:33.80 (good) | $250,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (10) | B. Giles Brophy | 32.50-1 (1 ¼ lengths) | $182,400—38 |
| 1989-April 8 (7th) | +Easy Goer* (c) | 1:32.40 (fast) | $250,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (5) | Ogden Phipps | 0.05-1 (13 lengths) | $168,300—37 |
| 1988-April 9 (7th) | +Private Terms (c) | 1:34.80 (fast) | $250,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (8) | Locust Hill Farm | 10.50-1 (3/4 length) | $181,500—36 |
| 1987-April 4 (8th) | Gone West (c) | 1:34.60 (sloppy) | $250,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (9) | Hickory Tree Farm | 3.30-1 (1 length) | $190,200—35 |
| 1986-April 5 (8th) | Mogambo (c) | 1:34.60 (fast) | $250,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (9) | Peter Brant | 3.80-1 (3/4 length) | $187,200—34 |
| 1985-April 6 (8th) | +Eternal Prince (c) | 1:34.40 (fast) | $150,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (7) | Brian J. Hurst Jr. | 18.40-1 (5 lengths) | $120,840—33 |
| 1984-April 7 (8th) | Bear Hunt (c) | 1:40.40 (fast) | $150,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile 70Y-Aqu (5) | Taylor Purchase Farm | 4.20-1 (4 ¾ lengths) | $109,440—32 |
| 1983-April 2 (7th-Div. 1) | Assault Landing* (c) | 1:35.80 (fast) | $75,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (9) | Locust Hill Farm | 1.60-1 (2 ¾ lengths) | $50,895—31 |
| 1983-April 2 (8th-Div. 2) | Chas Conerly (c) | 1:36.60 (fast) | $75,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (6) | Daniel Lavezzo Jr. | 3.70-1 (3 ¾ lengths) | $50,535—31 |
| 1982-April 3 (8th) | +Air Forbes Won (c) | 1:35.60 (good) | $75,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (8) | Edward Anchel | 2.50-1 (3 ¼ lengths) | $50,760—30 |
| 1981-April 5 (8th) | Proud Appeal (c) | 1:33.60 (fast) | $75,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (6) | Malcolm Winfield | 1.90-1 (nose) | $50,040—29 |
| 1980-April 5 (8th) | Colonel Moran* (c) | 1:37.00 (good) | $75,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (12) | Townsend Martin | 0.90-1 (nose) | $53,370—28 |
| Year (Race No.) | Winner (Sex) | Time (Cond.-Beyer) | Gross Purse-Gr. |
| Dis.-Track (Starters) | Owner(s) | Odds (Margin) | Winner’s Share |
| 1979-April 7 (8th) | General Assembly (c) | 1:43.60 (fast) | $75,000-Gr. II |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam (8) | Bertram Firestone | 4.00-1 (3 lengths) | $49,680—27 |
| 1978-April 8 (8th) | Slap Jack (c) | 1:38.60 (fast) | $50,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (9) | Jerry Frankel | 5.80-1 (1 length) | $33,210—26 |
| 1977-April 9 (8th) | Cormorant* (c) | 1:43.60 (fast) | $50,000-Gr. II |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam (9) | Charles Berry Jr. | 1.10-1 (2 ¼ lengths) | $32,850—25 |
| 1976-April 3 (8th) | Zen* (c) | 1:35.60 (fast) | $50,000-Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu (10) | Pen Y Bryn Farm | 0.60-1 (head) | $34,740—24 |
| 1975 April 5 (7th-Div. 1) | Laramie Trail (c) | 01:38.0 | Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Joseph M. Roebling | $27,180—23 | |
| 1975 April 5 (8th-Div. 2) | Singh (c) | 01:37.0 | Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Cynthia Phipps | $27,630—23 | |
| 1974-April 6 (7th-Div. 1) | Stonewalk (c) | 01:36.0 | Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Timberland Stable | $27,570—22 | |
| 1974-April 6 (8th-Div. 2) | +Rube the Great (c) | 01:35.2 | Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Sigmund Sommer | $27,420—22 | |
| 1973-April 7 (7th) | H3D-Secretariat (c) | 01:33.4 | Gr. II |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Meadow Stable | $33,330—21 | |
| 1972-April 8 (7th) | Freetex (c) | 01:36.4 | $36,750—20 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Middletown Stable | ||
| 1971-April 3 (7th) | +Good Behaving (c) | 01:36.0 | $34,080—19 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Neil Hellman | ||
| 1970-April 4 (7th) | Native Royalty (c) | 01:36.2 | $37,765—18 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Happy Valley Farm | ||
| 1969-April 5 (7th) | +Dike (c) | 01:34.8 | |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Claiborne Farm | $37,700—17 | |
| 1968-April 13 (7th) | Verbatim (c) | 01:34.0 | $39,000—16 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Elmendorf | ||
| 1967-April 15 (7th) | Dr. Fager (c) | 01:35.2 | |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Tartan Stable | $37,570—15 | |
| 1966-April 16 (7th) | Stupendous (c) | 01:34.6 | $38,480—14 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Wheatley Stable | ||
| 1965-April 3 (7th) | +Flag Raiser (c) | 01:36.6 | $37,310—13 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Isidor Bieber | ||
| 1964 | Mr. Moonlight (c) | 01:37.2 | $37,895—12 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Mrs. Magruder Dent | ||
| 1963 | Debbysman (c) | 01:34.6 | $37,375—11 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Gustave Ring | ||
| 1962 | 3-Jaipur (c) | 01:37.0 | |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | George Widener | $38,025—10 | |
| 1961 | Ambiopoise (c) | 01:35.8 | $37,895—9 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Robert Lehman | ||
| 1960 | John William (c) | 01:36.4 | $18,257—8 |
| 1 Mile-Aqu | Merrick Stable | ||
| 1959 | Atoll (c) | 01:43.0 | $18,290—7 |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam | Elkcam Stable | ||
| 1958 | Oh Johnny (5h) | 01:45.6 | $18,257—6 |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam | Mrs. W. Gilroy | ||
| 1957 | Mister Jive (c) | 01:45.6 | $21,400—5 |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam | J. L. Appelbaum | ||
| 1956 | Career Boy (c) | 01:45.6 | $20,200—4 |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam | C. V. Whitney | ||
| 1955 | Go Lightly (c) | 01:46.6 | $21,250—3 |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam | Roslyn Farm | ||
| 1954 | Fisherman (c) | 01:46.2 | $27,150—2 |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam | C. V. Whitney | ||
| 1953 (Div. 1) | +H3-Native Dancer (c) | 01:44.2 | |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam | Alfred Vanderbilt | $24,500—1 | |
| 1953 (Div. 2) | Laffango (c) | 01:44.0 | $24,500—1 |
| 1 1/16 Miles-Jam | Trio Stable | ||