Gotham J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

West Coast shipper I WANT REVENGE (Stephen Got Even) is the most accomplished
horse of the nine entered in the intriguing $250,000 Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct
on Saturday. The Jeff Mullins charge has impressed since being stretched out to
two turns and he holds a class edge over this field, but we’ll try to upend him
in his main track debut.

AXEL FOLEY (Officer) is one of two in here for Kiaran McLaughlin, and since
we are having difficulty separating the pair, we’ll go here since the price will
be better. The dark bay won his second career start over the Polytrack at
Lingfield and was immediately sent to the United States to prepare for the CashCall
Futurity (G1), where he didn’t impact the race when sixth. However, the colt did earn
a 104 BRIS Late Pace number in there, and he followed that with a game
second-place showing in the California Derby for Doug O’Neill. Axel Foley did
not respond to the addition of blinkers last out in the El Camino Real Derby
(G3) but will remove the shades for this test. While he’s a
question mark over the dirt surface, we’re pretty sure that this is his ideal
distance.

MR. FANTASY (E Dubai) has humbled a pair of New York-bred fields to begin his
career for McLaughlin and will take a giant step up in class against these. The
bay colt has been awesome to date, registering 107 and 101 BRIS Speed numbers in
his two tries, and he has trained steadily in preparation of this. The bay
appears to be the early speed of the field, but he rated well in his last route
attempt and doesn’t need the lead to put in a big showing. Alan Garcia has the
call.

I Want Revenge will be especially tough if he adapts to this oval for Mullins, which would further improve his status as a legitimate Kentucky Derby
(G1) contender. The dark bay is bred to run all day and has displayed a nice
turn of foot out west; it will be interesting to see if he can be as explosive
on dirt. Although this won’t help handicappers much, we can see this one moving
way up with the surface switch, or watch him retreat to an average animal that
thrives on the synthetic. Your call.

HAYNESFIELD (Speightstown) has done little wrong in his career for Steve
Asmussen, as the Empire State-bred has won five straight following a third-place
debut at Saratoga. The chestnut has toyed with three straight stakes fields and
has proven to be adept at leading at every call or tracking the early tempo. The
hunch here is that you may get 7-2 or more on the in-form colt, and he’s a
logical win threat beneath Chuckie Lopez.

IMPERIAL COUNCIL (Empire Maker) has been a buzz horse since his debut in
August, and rightfully so, as the dark bay seems to posses a world of talent for
Shug McGaughey. The well-bred dark bay returned from a lengthy break to dust a useful
allowance field in his sophomore debut at Gulfstream and has seemingly come out
of that race in fine form, evidenced by his dazzling half-mile drill in :48 1/5
at Payson Park. If the three-year-old runs to the work, he’ll be very tough
under Rajiv Maragh.

NAOS (Lion Heart) toppled a well-meant field with ease at Philadelphia Park
last out and is well drawn on the rail in here for Todd Pletcher. The bay owns
the best last-out BRIS Speed figure with a 102, and in would be unwise to sleep
on Pletcher at big odds. MASALA (Lion Heart) is yet another exotics contender in
this field as he exits a huge second to a nice one at Gulfstream Park in his
latest test. We don’t like the Florida-bred to win this, but we would not be
floored if he rallies for a minor award beneath Eibar Coa.

RUSSELL ROAD (Wheaton) is the wildcard in this field, entering off six
straight daylight wins against lesser for James Casey. The gelded speedster has
never run more than seven-eighths, but the way he has crushed his foes
suggests that he is more than deserving of a chance against these animals. We’ve
seen runners jump up and win races like this in the past, but this particular
group could be one of the better assembled for this race in recent memory,
potentially, and we’ll side with others.

GIANT RYAN (Freud) has good gate speed and should add some to the expected
swift pace, but he looks in deep from the outside post.