Shagaf Favored to win G3 Gotham at Aqueduct
Two-time winner Shagaf, trained by Chad Brown, opens as the 3 to 1 favorite to win the $400,000 G3 Gotham at Aqueduct off back-to-back wins at 1 mile.
The Kentucky bred 3 YO son of Bernardini will race in the colors of Shadwell Stable and gets the services of Irad Ortiz, Jr for the 1 1/16 mile Gotham over Aqueducts inner dirt course.
Shagaf was an easy winner at Aqueduct in November earning an 88 Beyer speed figure on the main track in a $60K MSW. He returned two months later at Gulfstream winning a $75K optional claiming race for NW1X beating Rally Cry who is listed at 5 to 1 for today’s Gotham.
Second choice in the field is Sunny Ridge winner of the G3 Withers earlier in the year over the Aqueduct inner. He’ll enter this race with three lifetime wins and two seconds in six starts for trainer Jason Servis. He was second in the G3 Delta Jackpot behind Exaggerator and has the benefit of a winning race over the track but he’ll be spotting the rest of today’s rivals with a 7 pound break in the weights and will carry 123.
Rally Cry who finished 4 1/4 lengths behind the favorite after he was forced to steady and was 5 wide at the 1/8 pole gets a new rider in Albarado for trainer Todd Pletcher. And while rider and trainer are both having good meets individually at Aqueduct they are a combined 0 for 3 at Aqueduct and 0 for 5 on the year when teaming up but I wouldn’t dismiss him altogether. The pick.
Click here to get free past performances for today’s Gotham as the DRF.com race of the day.
Selections: 8 – 2 – 7
