You can thank Google for my being unable to give you my selections for the Gotham Stakes and the Louisiana Derby. I had suggested betting $18 and you would have collected $16.40 for a net loss of $1.60--not a disaster compared to last year. Maybe Google will send me the $1.60.
Let's take Aqueduct's Gotham Stakes (Grade 3) run last Saturday at 1-1/16th miles. To read the tout sheets, you felt as if you needed a jeweled crown to place on the head of Summer Doldrums, the even-money favorite who had won by 5 widening lengths in the Whirlaway last month. As we all know, running the race must precede the coronation. The horse wearing the crown after the Gotham was Cowtown Cat- another Todd Pletcher trained horse. Cowtown Cat (Ramon Dominguez) hugged the rail while no worse than 4th all the way until he took over in mid-stretch to win by 2-1/2 lengths. The final time was a very pedestrian 1:44-3/5. Derby hopeful Wollaston Bay (Shaun Bridgmohan) set a slow pace and then weakened to finish 7th. So much for his Derby hopes. Wafi City (Alan Garcia) showed some true grit by taking the lead at the 3/4 pole and yielding late to the winner. Wafi City, sent off at 13-1, managed to hold second. As for Summer Doldrums (Mike Luzzi), he ran a really flat race running 3rd most of the way and showing some interest very late in the race. He surely was a bounce candidate and I expect better in the Wood Memorial on the day before Easter.
Meanwhile at the Fairgrounds in Louisiana the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby was run. Sent off as the public choice at 8/5, Circular Quay (John Velasquez) won the mile and one-sixteenth mile contest by 2 widening lengths in 1:43 flat--compared to the slow Gotham. Derby hopeful Ketchikan (Larry Melancon) set the pace and could not hold off the late running Circular Quay.
Tough time of year to pick; but, we do our best.
May the horse be with you,
Racetrack Lenny
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