Phipps Stable’s homebred SURVIVALIST (Danzig) closed determinedly in deep
stretch to reach the wire first and then withstood a lengthy stewards’ inquiry
to claim Saturday’s $150,000
Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct. Rating off steamy early
fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 2/5, the Shug McGaughey-trained colt launched his
rally on the far turn and entered the stretch drive widest of all. It was
anything but a clean trip as he bumped a couple of times with a bearing out
Naughty New Yorker (Quiet American) and then came inward near the wire, but
Survivalist would not be denied, proving best in a five-horse blanket finish to
win by three parts of a length.
The stewards disallowed a claim of foul against the winner but did disqualify
second-place finisher Pavo (Marquetry), moving 9-5 favorite Galloping Grocer (A. P
Jet) up one spot to second and Naughty New Yorker to third. Pavo’s jockey, Alan
Garcia, rode through the stretch without his right iron but struck Naughty New
Yorker in the head with his whip a few jumps before the finish.
Survivalist, who was making his stakes debut, completed the one-mile,
one-turn Gotham in 1:35 3/5 over the fast main track at Aqueduct. Ridden by
Richard Migliore, the near 7-2 second choice returned $8.90, $4 and $2.90.
Galloping Grocer gave back $3.40 and $2.30, and third choice Naughty New Yorker
was good for $2.60. The exacta totaled $28.40 and the 8-3-6 trifecta was worth
$68. Pavo, Byanosejoe (Cherokee Run), Lieutenant Danz (Gold Fever), Mr.
Congeniality (Chester House), Maddy’s Lion (Lion Hearted) and Distinctive Trick
(Distinctive Pro) rounded out the official order of finish.
Out of the winning Miner’s Game (Mr. Prospector), the Kentucky-bred winner is
a full brother to stakes winner Polish Miner and has a pair of younger
half-siblings by Maria’s Mon, a two-year-old filly named Celestite and a
yearling colt named Foolish Bid. Miner’s Game is a daughter of Con Game (Buckpasser),
making her a full sister to Grade 1 winner Seeking the Gold and a half-sister to
Grade 1 hero Fast Play (Seattle Slew)
Survivalist now owns an overall mark of 5-2-2-0 with $131,820 in earnings.
McGaughey said the April 9 Wood Memorial S. (G1) is likely next for the Kentucky
Derby (G1) hopeful.