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Free PPs, Odds and Analysis for Gotham Stakes 2021
- Updated: March 4, 2021
Free Gotham Stakes past performances for Saturday, March 06, 2021
Hall of Fame trainer Baffert sends out Freedom Fighter in the $300,000 G3 Gotham at Aqueduct
Sf Racing LLC, et als, Freedom Fighter will break from post position 7 in a field of 8 to contest the G3 Gotham Stakes on Saturday.
Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Freedom Fighter raced once in 2020, taking a 5 furlong sprint at Del Mar as the heavy favorite. Second behind Concert Tour in his 2021 debut, he’s speed carried him through three quarters before giving way in the final eighth of mile of the 7 furlong San Vicente.
Sitting on back to back bullets in his final two preps for the 1 mile Gotham, he’ll need to show he’s got more in the tank to go longer.
His sire Violence took three in a row to start his career, winning the 1 mile Nashua at Aqueduct, and the Cash Call Futurity at 1 1/6 miles at historic Hollywood Park in 2012. And he made his final career stop as the runner-up to Orb in the G2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream at 1 1/16th.
Out of the City Zip mare, Canadian Ballet who ended her career finishing 14th in the 5 furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2010, and never got beyond 7 furlongs, it will take all of Baffert’s tricks to get this one to go Derby trail distances.
As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races, the Gotham is worth a total of 85 points to be distributed on a 50-20-10-5 split between the top four finishers.
The Official Field for the 1 mile Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct
| PP. | Horse | Odds | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlantic Road | 30 | Pletcher |
| A last out winner going 7f here in an $80K MSW, he wore blinkers for the first time to hang on by a head in a race that had the third place finisher return in next out to score. Twice started with Lasix, he won’t get it in the Derby preps and gets a new rider for Starlight Racing who happens to be part owner of the Baffert trainee Freedom Fighter. | |||
| 2 | The Reds | 30 | Kimmel |
| Added Lasix and blinkers two back and showed improvement at the 1 mile distance before finding his way home from off the pace to get his maiden win going 1 1/8 miles here in late January. It appears that Lasix may be his friend, but regular rider Carmouche lands elsewhere. Tough to win right back against experience and like him in longer contests. | |||
| 3 | Highly Motivated | 8-5 | Brown |
| Morning line odds haven’t been set yet, but expect he’ll be the short priced favorite off a pair of wins in his last two for future HOF trainer, Brown. Sire Into Mischief is well represented in this year’s crop of Derby contenders and if he wins and picks up the points he’ll leap into the Top 10 in points earned on the board. UPDATE: Opens favorite as expected. | |||
| 4 | Wipe the Slate | 6 | O’Neill |
| Son of Reddam Racing LLC’s Derby winner Nyquist, he comes east to shorten up after seeing them all cross the finish line in front of him last time out in the R.B. Lewis behind the Baffert runner Medina Spirit. Picks up local rider Carmouche and could spring the upset at a price. | |||
| 5 | Crowded Trade | 9/2 | Brown |
| Wondering how hard it was for Franco to give up the mount on this one who has the look of something special in the Brown barn. Running line says he was 2 wide, 5 wide at the 1/8 pole, and up in the final 70 yards to get his first ever out going 6 furlongs. Gets Cancel with a BIG SHOT to pick up the points in here. | |||
| 6 | Capo Kane | 5 | Wyner |
| Won the Jerome going 1 mile in the mud here, after taking a second out voyage to break his maiden at Parx in November. Tired LTO in the G3 Withers here and will cut back to a more favorable distance. But with the presence of other speed types, he’ll find his modest speed to be tough to carry home as the winner. | |||
| 7 | Freedom Fighter | 5/2 | Baffert |
| Franco landing here shouldn’t be a surprise. If he gets a call to ride one for Baffert, it would have been a mistake to not answer. That was a very good second place effort in the San Vicente LTO behind stablemate Concert Tour who is 2 for 2. Baffert is loaded with talent again this year and he can’t run them all against each other, yet. CHOICE. | |||
| 8 | Weyburn | 20 | Jerkens |
| Lezcano aboard for his first three, taking a MSW over the slop here last December. New rider indicates a lack of enthusiasm on Lezcano’s part and in the morning line. Pass for now. | |||
| Free PPs for the Gotham Stakes courtesy of Brisnet. See Baffert PPs | |||
