The $125,000 ESR Gotham City Stakes

A full field of three year old colts and fillies will enter the starting gate at the NY Racetrack for the first running of the $125,000 ESR NY Gotham City Stakes.  The race will be run at a distance of one mile and one sixteenth over the dirt course.

1 – STORM CADET (KY) – the cadet stables will test their three year old scratch-bred Dynaformer filly against the boys this week. The talented filly puts the colts on notice here as she puts her three race win streak on the line.  Winner of the filly version of this race last time out, the swift-footed chestnut boasts improving speed figures in every start and has no trouble handling two turns…dangerous

2 – KENT THIRSTY (KY) – bristolred trains this dynamic Bernardi colt who will also be looking to notch his fourth win in five starts.  The precocious three year old ships in from Japan where he rides a two race win streak, the last a convincing allowance win where he posted a 93 speed figure under wraps.  Will have to battle STORM CADET for the early lead, a battle he should prevail…fast and fit

3 – LUCK ON MY SIDE (KY) – the pointblank trained three year old gives away nothing on pedigree (Lookin At Lucky x Giant’s Causeway x Mr. Prospector) to this field, and after five chances turned in an all out performance to break his maiden coming from far back getting a nose in front at the wire.  That effort may have had an adverse effect on his next start when he was eased to the wire.  Should benefit from good early fractions, the question is; is he ready…your call

4 – PIN THE TAIL (NZ) – the hawkz connections get the good sportsmanship award this week with their Maiden entry of this three year old filly out of the New Zealand standing sire Pins.  Off the board in four starts, the ambitiously placed filly will certainly benefit from her start here and could be a factor in her next start…not with these

5 – THISCAVEISCOLD (NY) – irish trains this Frost Giant NY bred who has in the money in four of seven lifetime starts including a maiden win at five furlongs in open company in Pa. The local bred struggled last time out against his own kind in a ESR Region 5 Local bred race finishing far back in a field of 10, but it is his previous race that might indicate his chances today when he finished steady closing second in open company allowance in his first and only two-turn appearance albeit over a sloppy track.  Connections are famous for putting over big numbers and this colt is ready to put in a good performance if his every other race is a good one schedule holds up…must show more

6 – KING ARCHIE (KY) – the jetman trains this three year old son of Arch, but recent headlines from the media report that Tim Tebow will sub for this horse if his performance isn’t up to par.  The somewhat erratic KY bred has found his best form racing around two turns when finishing third and first respectively before disappointing in his first stakes bid last time out in Northern Florida.  He should certainly benefit from that experience, but Israel will have to keep him closer and not lose contact with this field… chance off best

7 – STEP ASIDE PLEASE (KY) – is a three year old Malibu Moon colt trained by the kingab stables.  The promising young brown colt debuted down the turnpike at Delaware Park in a six furlong sprint and immediately showed some ability when he rallied from the back of the pack gaining steadily on the leaders to pick up a minor share of the purse.  The next start was an easy evaluation to travel around two-turns and that decision paid immediate dividends when he used that same late running style to drive past the leaders to break his maiden in Maryland…might be this good

8 – INDIORO – frankster has this three year old son of Indian Charlie looking like a contender for the three year old classics.  Winner of three of eight with a pair of second place finishes, this capable colt has a stakes win on his résumé and has dominated ESR restricted races winning both starts at 6 and 8 furlongs.  With improving speeds in every start, this colt has a big shot here on Saturday…one to beat

9 –  DREADALILDREAM (ENG) – mjb trains this three year old son of Oasis Dream from the Graded stakes winning mare Alyivor Ransom and sibling to two stakes winners. Mike is hoping this promising ENG bred continues his good form over the dirt circling around two turns where he has a win and two third place finishes in three starts.  After a good turf debut, the colt struggled in his next two starts on the green when his connections decided it was time for a change in surface.  The colt quickly responded with a fast closing win in at a mile for his maiden score.  May have been a bit overmatched in last when asked to go nine furlongs on an off track in his first stakes appearance, but he did manage a third place finish in that race albeit he was ten lengths behind the winner…might surprise

10 – STREETSPECTOR (KY) – the balata trained son of Street cry out of the multi-graded stakes winning mare Storm Spector, is making his two turn debut after a convincing maiden win going seven furlongs over a sloppy race track in Kentucky.  Another colt that makes up in pedigree what he lacks in experience against this field. Expect this colt to be a factor at some point in this race, and if as good as I think he’s going to be might even steal one…don’t ignore

11 – ATOMIC JONES (PA) – ok so this is my entry into this talented field of three year olds, and while confident at the time of entry, the looks of the rest of this field has brought me back from Oz. The PA bred has been a capable performer to date winning three of six starts, but after a hard fought win in the ESR celebration, he struggled mightily in his last two in stakes competition and speed figures have been on the decline…happy with part

12 – SUNNY BOY (NY) – masterm brings this nice looking son of Freud to the NY starting gate after a pair of impressive Illinois starts.  After a second place finish in his seven furlong debut with an 85 speed figure he came right back on the Illinois oval to break his maiden in his two turn debut pulling away from the field in an eye-catching 90 speed figure…Gives away experience to this field and is making a big jump in class, but this capable young colt is doing everything right and hasn’t disappointed so far…long

shot possibility

13 – PHOT BOSTORD (KY) – casino has this son of Curlin rockin’ and rollin’ against some of the top three year olds in the country.  On the board in nine of 11 starts, eight of them stakes level including a win in the Almost Whirl Juvenile and a third place finish in the Grade1 Hopeless as a two year old.  The only knock you can put on this hard hitter is that he hasn’t won around two turns in two starts, both in Stakes Company if that is a knock at all…class edge

14 – MURRAY CHAMP (KSA) – slew’s entry is a three year old son of Lammtarra whose lone win came over the turf course.  Second and third in three dirt starts, and in the money in four of six routes, the KSA colt is still a notch below the others in this field posting a career best 76 speed figure in eight starts.  Another that would benefit in his next start, especially if matched up with local breds of his kind…look elsewhere