Gotham Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2021 Gotham Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2021 Gotham Stakes is set for March 6 at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, New York. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Gotham Stakes Preview and Prediction
- Race: Gotham Stakes
- Purse: $300,000
- Track: Aqueduct Race Track
- Date: March 6
- Post Time: 5:07 PM (ET)
- Live: Aqueduct Stakes Odds: Click Here
2021 Gotham Stakes Handicapping
Every Saturday brings us one week closer to the running of the 2021 Kentucky Derby on May 1 and the race for Derby qualifying points continues to heat up.
One of three Derby qualifiers set for this weekend is the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Open to horses age three, the Gotham is run at a flat mile on the Aqueduct dirt course, and offers Derby points to the top four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 scale. The race has drawn a field of eight, several of which are coming in off of last-out wins.
Odds listed here are from the Bovada racebook.
2021 Gotham Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Highly Motivated Race Odds: 6-5
Not only did Highly Motivated win the Nyquist Stakes last time out at Keeneland, he did it with style, setting a new track record for the 6 1/2 furlong distance in the process.
He was aided in his effort with a very fast pace to chase through the first six furlongs being set by aptly named runner up Quick Tempo. He was able to close six lengths on that one in the stretch and then pull away to win by four.
He’s trained by Chad Brown, who won the Gotham in 2016. Jockey Javier Castellano gets the ride.
2021 Gotham Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Freedom Fighter Race Odds: 5-2
West Coast shipper Freedom Fighter comes to the Gotham off a runner up finish in the (G2) San Vincente Stakes at Santa Anita, where he led from the gate only to be caught in the shadow of the wire and beaten by a half length.
That race one month ago was only his second lifetime start. He was a winner in his career debut back in August at Del Mar in a five-furlong sprint. He was the pace setter in that one as well and managed to hang on to win by a head.
Expect him to go to the front here again and try to carry his speed for the full mile.
For trainer Bob Baffert, the Gotham is one of the few big races he has yet to win. Jockey Manny Franco also looks for his first Gotham win.
2021 Gotham Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Crowded Trade Race Odds: 9-1
The least experienced runner in the race, Crowded Trade only made his career debut at Aqueduct in late January. He was the winner of that race, despite the fact he had to go five wide off the run and into the stretch but was still able to close on the leaders and hit the wire one length in front.
That race was run at six furlongs and he looks like one that will appreciate getting some extra distance here.
He’s another Chad Brown trainee, while Eric Cancel will be in the irons.
2021 Gotham Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Weyburn Race Odds: 33-1
The longest shot on the board, Weyburn is an Ontario-bred colt that may be overlooked at the betting windows.
He was a last-out winner in his third career race after posting a runner-up finish prior to that, with both of those efforts going seven furlongs at Aqueduct. He has been posting some very impressive workouts since that December win, and may be ready to take a step forward at big odds.
Jimmy Jerkins trains, Trevor McCarthy will ride.
Here’s My 2021 Gotham Stakes Free Pick.
Not only did Highly Motivated win the Nyquist Stakes in track-record time last out, he also scored an eye-catching 104 Equibase speed figure in that race, and the horse he beat there came back to win the Sugar Bowl Stakes in his very next start.
That all adds up to making him the win pick here. While you have to give respect to the early speed of Freedom Fighter, there’s some question as to wether he can get the distance. With lots of value to be had after the top two, I’ll use both Crowded Trade and Weyburn underneath Highly Motivated in the exacta.
Full Field: Gotham Stakes Betting Odds
- Highly Motivated 6-5
- Freedom Fighter 5-2
- Capo Kane 7-1
- Crowded Trade 9-1
- Wipe The Slate 12-1
- Atlantic Road 16-1
- The Reds 33-1
- Weyburn 33-1
What do you think of our 2021 Gotham Stakes Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
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