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Santa Anita, Derby Dubai World Cup Wood Memorial Day Dubai World Cup Works Dubai World Cup entries |
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 Reylu Gutierrez celebrates aboard Flood Zone after the Gotham Stakes |
The $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) is the first major New York prep for the Kentucky Derby, and is worth 50 points to the winner as part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series. Conditions on Long Island were typical for early March, with cloudy skies, 40 MPH wind gusts, and temperatures in the low 50's. A field of 9 three-year-olds contested this 1 mile trip around one turn of the main track, with Sand Devil sent off as the 7-5 favorite, undefeated in 3 starts all in state-bred company including the Damon Runyon last out. In to challenge him included 5-2 second choice Sacrosanct, undefeated in 4 starts also all in state-bred company including the New York Stallion Series in December, and 5-1 third choice Garamond, off his debut win at Tampa Bay Downs on January 25..
 Down the stretch with the Gotham Stakes |
Jockey Reylu Gutierrez sent 18-1 Flood Zone to the lead out of the chute through an opening quarter of 23.86 before 22-1 Normandy Coast poked his head in front after a half in 47.97, pressed by Flood Zone and stalked by Sand Devil. Turning for home, Normandy Coast was eased allowing Sand Devil to lead through 3/4 in 1:13.69. Gutierrez moved Flood Zone out 5 wide for room and he rallied to gain the lead through 7f in 1:27.47. Kept to task by Gutierrez, Flood Zone drew off late to win by 3 1/4 lengths over Sand Devil in 1:39.62. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to late-running Garamond third.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 7 Flood Zone Gutierrez 37.60 10.80 7.10 5 Sand Devil Lezcano 3.20 2.50 9 Garamond Castellano 5.30 Winning Time: 1:39.62 $1 Exacta 7-5 52.75 $0.50 Trifecta 7-5-9 185.25 $0.10 Superfecta 7-5-9-10 352.35 |
Left: Flood Zone gets a hug in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Reylu Gutierrez said, "He broke really sharp and on the bridle. Once we passed the chute, he was in control and in command. I just let him take me. He's got small blinkers on so it's just a matter of him feeling that other horse [coming on]. He's a younger horse, too. You have to keep them alive and productive, and we did that - he did that. I didn't do anything special today. It was an outside draw and it's all about the horse. Going two turns, he'll be even better in my opinion. He has very good tactical speed and he has gears to go the distance."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Gotham.
Left: Flood Zone walks over before the race.
Right: Flood Zone returns after the race. Dustin Degas, assistant to winning trainer Brad Cox said, "It was a great effort. Reylu know more about the horse than I did - he was a recent purchase and Reylu had ridden him the first two times as well. He said he was full of horse today and really happy with him. He broke very sharp, and he said as soon as he crossed the chute, he was full of horse and in command from there on. The horse came in from Payson and had three gallops here at Belmont. He seems like a solid colt.”
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Sand Devil returns after the race. Trainer Linda Rice said, "It wasn't exactly the trip we thought that we would get. We thought we would stalk off of it, but we stumbled at the break, and I think Jose had to get him underway then. But I thought he ran a good race. Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, we will head towards the Wood." Jockey Jose Lezcano added, "Well, he gave me a good race. He broke a little awkwardly. I think he still gave me a very good race. I think he'll be a bit better next time, let's see what happens. I had to rush a little bit with my position, and he still gave me a good race. I think the distance (of the Wood) will be no problem for him."
Right: Third place finisher Garamond in the post parade. The Chad Brown trainee improved his record to 1 win and 1 third in 2 starts, earning $54,880 for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farm.
 Full Moon Madness wins the Tom Fool Stakes |
Jockey Manny Franco sent Top Gunner to the lead through an opening quarter in 22.76 before Full Moon Madness took over on the turn through a half in 46.37. Confidently ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, Full Moon Madness drew off in the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 8-1 Surveillance in 1:11.10. It was a long 4 1/2 lengths back to favorite Top Gunner third.
Left: Full Moon Madness heads to the winner's circle. Winning trainer Michelle Nevin said, "A good, clean break today was great. They were quick [splits], but Kendrick looked very comfortable and very happy where he was sitting. Manny [Franco aboard Top Gunner] looked like he was having to work a little bit, but Kendrick was just poised there. He's a quirky horse. Kendrick got him to break good today and that's the key.”
Right: Full Moon Madness in the post parade. Winning jockey Kendrick Carmouche said, "My horse ran good today. He broke better. I wanted to be forward with him. He put me into a good spot. That's all I had to do, I was ride him home from there. I thought Michelle had done a good job with getting him back to the races and his winning ways. Today was a victory day. I'd like to thank the owners, trainer, groom, and hotwalkers. I thought (the sharp start) was the winning point."
Left: Second place finisher Surveillance in the post parade. Jockey Jose Lezcano said, "My horse broke pretty good. He's a nice horse. The winner never stopped. My horse gave him a very good race, in my opinion. I think I got pretty good position and the horse that beat us is a nice horse."
Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Top Gunner heads out to the track before the race. The Brad Cox trainee improved his record to 8 wins, 6 seconds, and 9 thirds in 35 starts, earning $706,279 for owner Michael Dubb.
 Drexel Hill wins the Busher Stakes |
15-2 She's Fascinating was quickest away through an opening quarter of 23.64 before Volleyballprincess gained a short lead through a half in 47.68, pressed by She's Fascinating and stalked by Sharp Smile. Turning for home 23-1 Amarth, 5th early, took over through 3/4 in 1:14.09 and continued to lead midstretch through 7f in 1:27.40. 5-1 fourth choice Drexel Hill, 7th early under Ben Curtis after stumbling at the start, came out 4 wide and rallied to win by 3/4 length over Amarth in 1:41.46. It was a long 4 lengths back to Volleyballprincess third, while favorite Liam in the Dust showed nothing and finished last beaten 23 1/2 lengths.
Left: Drexel Hill in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Ben Curtis said, "She broke very quick out of the gate and then took a stumble about a jump in and it took her awhile to get going after that. She didn't really take to the track very well, but I let her find her feet and warmed her up into it. I saw [Amarth] going well, so I tried to follow that one through. She only really came good the last 1/8 mile and she hit the line very strong. I think she overcame the fact she didn't like the track. She's a very tough filly. She's crying out for more, the further the better. She has a good attitude and she'll stay well."
Right: The trophy presentation. Winning trainer Whit Beckman said, "She came out and looked a little flat. [Curtis] was nudging her along the whole way and down the backside, so I was a little unsure if she was going to fire. Once he got her pointed outside she engaged and once she flattened out down the stretch she responded beautifully. Generally horses that break like that and are having to be asked the whole way don't finish so well, but once he got her through the turn and she switched leads she really found another gear."
Left: Second place finisher Amarth walks over before the race. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche said, "I had a perfect trip. I thought I'd be at least sitting second, but I let those guys run away from me. I was sitting a perfect trip. No excuse for this filly, she ran her heart out. I thought the trainer and the owner brought this horse to win today. I thought if I gave her a good ride, we could get the money at twenty to one."
Right: Third place finisher Volleyballprincess returns after the race. The Louis Linder Jr. trainee improved her record to 2 wins and 2 thirds in 4 starts, earning $130,050 for owners Bran Jam Stable and David Clark.
 Bank Frenzy wins the Stymie Stakes |
30-1 Winnin'onweekends and 37-1 Concealed Carry dueled for the lead through fractions of 23.43 and 47.20 while stalked by Yo Daddy and Coastal Mission. On the far turn, Bank Frenzy, 6th early, swept 5 wide to the front through 3/4 in 1:13.34. Kept to task by Manny Franco, Bank Frenzy drew off through the stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths over late-running 9-2 fourth choice Worcester in 1:40.29. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back to Coastal Mission third.
Left: Bank Frenzy in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Manny Franco said, "He was impressive. The horse did everything. I just sat behind the fast pace in front of me. I was happy with the way my horse was traveling. By the three-eighths pole, my horse jumped on the bridle without me asking to do that. So I didn't want to get into his way because I know he has a big stride, he is a big horse. I let him do it and he took me to the wire."
Right: Bank Frenzy returns after the race. Winning trainer Rudy Rodriguez said, "To see the track fast is always a plus because when it's sloppy there's a lot of kickback and makes it more difficult for them to progress. I saw Manny by the 5/8 pole and the horse was already very keen - when they went to the outside, I said, 'wow, he has a lot of horse.' Owner Larry Sarf added, He's won two in a row and he's won a stakes in open company now. From 7 furlongs to mile, he's effective. The pace was fast and Franco stayed back. He closed on the 3/4 pole like it was nothing from there. He's a very nice horse."
Left: Second place finisher Worcesterin the post parade. Jockey Sheldon Russell said, "We weren't worried about the distance because he's shown us both ways. I don't want to say he is a weird horse, but you don't really know what you are going to get. It's just whether he breaks or not, and today unfortunately he didn't break. I was comfortable with the way he was traveling but maybe the winner got the first jump. My guy ran all the way to the line, galloped out good."
Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Coastal Mission returns after the race. He improved his record to 14 wins, 5 seconds, and 2 thirds in 28 starts, earning $1,150,153 for owner-trainer Jeff Runco.
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