Gotham Stakes

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Gotham Stakes

Gotham Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Aqueduct Racetrack, Jamaica, NY
  • Inaugural Race: 1953
  • Current Distance: 1 mile
  • Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
  • Status: Grade 3
  • 2023 Purse: $300,000
  • 2023 Race Date: Saturday, March 4th

The Gotham Stakes is one of the prep races for the Wood Memorial and is also part of The Road to the Kentucky Derby. Winners of the contest are awarded 50-20-15-10-5 points respectively.

2023 Gotham Stakes Race Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE / SHOW
12Raise CainJose Lezcano / Ben Colebrook$49.00 / $14.60 / $9.10
11Slip MahoneyTrevor McCarthy / Brad H. Cox$6.70 / $4.70
6General BankerFrankie Pennington / James W. Ferraro$8.40
13Eyeing CloverFlorent Geroux / Brad H. Cox
1Clear the AirJack Gilligan / William Walden
3Mr. SwaggerCarlos Olivero / Juan Carlos Avila
10Lugan KnightDylan Davis / Michael W. McCarthy
5Carmel RoadEric Cancel / Tim Yakteen
15Radio RedJose Antonio Gomez / Danny Gargan
7TransectJoseph Talamo / Paulo H. Lobo
14RecruiterAngel Cruz / Cathal A. Lynch
4UncorrelatedManuel Franco / Chad C. Brown
9ClubhouseKendrick Carmouche / Todd A. Pletcher
2HowgreatisnateJ. D. Acosta / Andrew L. Simoff

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1 Exacta (12-11) Paid: $81.25
  • $0.50 Trifecta (12-11-6) Paid: $367.25
  • $0.10 Superfecta (12-11-6-13) Paid: $611.60

Watch the 2023 Gotham Stakes

The History of the Gotham Stakes

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 it’s marquee races.

The original 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 five different eras; from 1960-1976, in 1978, 1980-2002, 2004-2005 and finally from 2018 to today. 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 six 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., Jorge Velasquez and Jose Lezcano. Trainers Claud McGuaghey III (1989, 1992 and 2005) and Kiaran McLaughlin (2006, 2018, 2019) are tied with the most wins in this race with three victories each.

The Gotham Stakes is worth a purse of $300,000 and is currently holds a rating of Grade-III.

Gotham Stakes Past Winners

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerTime / Length
2023Raise CainJose Lezcano / Ben Colebrook1:38.09 / 1 mile
2022MorelloJose Lezcano / Steven M. Asmussen1:39.28 / 1 mile
2021WeyburnTrevor McCarthy / Jimmy Jerkens1:38.70 / 1 mile
2020Mischevious AlexKendrick Carmouche / John Servis1:38.80 / 1 mile
2019HaikalRajiv Maragh / Kiaran McLaughlin1:35.63 / 1 mile
2018EnticedJunior Alvarado / Kiaran McLaughlin1:38.24 / 1 mile
2017J Boys EchoRobby Albarado / Dale L. Romans1:46.34 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2016ShagafIrad Ortiz Jr. / Chad C. Brown1:45.90 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2015El KabeirCharles C. Lopez / John P. Terranova II1:45.56 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2014SamraatJosé Ortiz / Richard Violette Jr.1:44.44 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2013VyjackJoel Rosario / Rudy R. Rodriguez1:44.09 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2012HansenRamon Domínguez / Mike Maker1:43.84 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2011Stay ThirstyRamon Domínguez / Todd Pletcher1:44.78 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2010Awesome ActJulien Leparoux / Jeremy Noseda1:43.85 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2009I Want RevengeJoseph Talamo / Jeff Mullins1:42.65 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2008VisionaireJose Lezcano / Michael Matz1:44.60 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2007Cowtown CatRamon Domínguez / Todd A. Pletcher1:44.75 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2006Like NowFernando Jara / Kiaran McLaughlin1:43.17 / 1 1⁄16 miles
2005SurvivalistRichard Migliore / C. R. McGaughey III1:35.61 / 1 mile
2004Saratoga CountyJavier Castellano / George Weaver1:35.53 / 1 mile
2003AlysweepRichard Migliore / Patrick L. Reynolds1:40.60 / 1 mile, 70 yards
2002MayakovskyEdgar Prado / Patrick Biancone1:34.90 / 1 mile
2001Richly BlendedRick Wilson / Ben Perkins Jr.1:35.14 / 1 mile
2000Red BulletAlex Solis / Joseph Orseno1:34.27 / 1 mile
1999BadgeShaun Bridgmohan / Joseph Aquillino1:34.72 / 1 mile
1998WasatchJerry D. Bailey / Martin D. Wolfson1:36.56 / 1 mile
1997Smokin MelJohn Velazquez / John DeStefano Jr.1:34.38 / 1 mile
1996Romano GucciJulie Krone / Richard E. Dutrow1:34.40 / 1 mile
1995Talkin ManMike E. Smith / Roger Attfield1:36.82 / 1 mile
1994IrgunJerry D. Bailey / Steven W. Young1:36.27 / 1 mile
1993As IndicatedCaesar Bisono / Richard Schosberg1:36.24 / 1 mile
1992Lure †Mike E. Smith / C. R. McGaughey III1:35.63 / 1 mile
1992Devil His Due †Herb McCauley / H. Allen Jerkens1:35.63 / 1 mile
1991Kyle's Our ManÁngel Cordero Jr. / John M. Veitch1:34.69 / 1 mile
1990Thirty Six RedMike E. Smith / Nick Zito1:33.80 / 1 mile
1989Easy GoerPat Day / C. R. McGaughey III1:32.40 / 1 mile
1988Private TermsChris Antley / Charles Hadry1:34.80 / 1 mile
1987Gone WestRobbie Davis / Woody Stephens1:34.60 / 1 mile
1986MogamboJacinto Vásquez / LeRoy Jolley1:34.60 / 1 mile
1985Eternal PrinceRichard Migliore / John J. Lenzini Jr.1:35.80 / 1 mile
1984Bear HuntDon MacBeth / Roger Laurin1:40.40 / 1 mile, 70 yards
1983 (Division 1)Assault LandingVince Bracciale Jr. / Charles Hadry1:35.80 / 1 mile
1983 (Division 2)Chas ConerlyJeffrey Fell / Mervin Marks1:36.60 / 1 mile
1982Air Forbes WonMichael Venezia / Frank LaBoccetta1:35.60 / 1 mile
1981Proud AppealJeffrey Fell / Stanley M. Hough1:33.60 / 1 mile
1980Colonel MoranJorge Velásquez / Thomas J. Kelly1:37.00 / 1 mile
1979General AssemblyJacinto Vásquez / LeRoy Jolley1:43.60 / 1 1⁄16 miles
1978Slap JackJorge Velásquez / Lou M. Goldfine1:38.60 / 1 mile
1977CormorantDanny Wright / James P. Simpson1:43.60 / 1 1⁄16 miles
1976ZenJacinto Vásquez / David A. Whiteley1:35.60 / 1 mile
1975 (Division 1)Laramie TrailMike Venezia / Jose A. Martin1:38.00 / 1 mile
1975 (Division 2)SinghÁngel Cordero Jr. / John W. Russell1:37.00 / 1 mile
1974 (Division 1)StonewalkMiguel A. Rivera / Daniel Lopez1:36.00 / 1 mile
1974 (Division 2)Rube The GreatMiguel A. Rivera / Frank Martin1:35.20 / 1 mile
1973SecretariatRon Turcotte / Lucien Laurin1:33.40 / 1 mile
1972FreetexChuck Baltazar / William T. Raymond1:36.40 / 1 mile
1971Good BehavingRon Turcotte / John P. Campo1:36.00 / 1 mile
1970Native RoyaltyÁngel Cordero Jr. / John T. Davis1:36.20 / 1 mile
1969DikeJorge Velásquez / Lucien Laurin1:34.80 / 1 mile
1968VerbatimJohn L. Rotz / James P. Conway1:34.00 / 1 mile
1967Dr. FagerManuel Ycaza / John A. Nerud1:35.20 / 1 mile
1966StupendousPete Anderson / Edward A. Neloy1:34.60 / 1 mile
1965Flag RaiserBobby Ussery / Hirsch Jacobs1:36.60 / 1 mile
1964Mr. MoonlightJimmy Combest / Nick Combest1:37.20 / 1 mile
1963DebbysmanLarry Adams / Robert Dotter1:34.60 / 1 mile
1962JaipurBill Shoemaker / Bert Mulholland1:37.00 / 1 mile
1961AmbiopoiseBobby Ussery / Thomas M. Waller1:35.80 / 1 mile
1960John WilliamSam Boulmetis / G. Auerbach1:36.40 / 1 mile
1959AtollEddie Arcaro / Ray Metcalf1:43.00 / 1 1⁄16 miles
1958Oh JohnnyWilliam Boland / Norman R. McLeod1:43.60 / 1 1⁄16 miles
1957Mister JiveHedley Woodhouse / George M. Carter1:45.60 / 1 1⁄16 miles
1956Career BoyEric Guerin / Sylvester Veitch1:45.60 / 1 1⁄16 miles
1955Go LightlyJoe Culmone / James McGee1:46.60 / 1 1⁄16 miles
1954FishermanHedley Woodhouse / Sylvester Veitch1:46.20 / 1 1⁄16 miles
1953 (Division 1)Native DancerEric Guerin / William C. Winfrey1:44.20 / 1 1⁄16 miles
1953 (Division 2)LaffangoNick Shuk / Merritt A. Buxton1:44.00 / 1 1⁄16 miles