Gotham Stakes
{{short description|American Thoroughbred horse race}}
{{Infobox horseraces
| class = Grade III
| horse race = Gotham Stakes
| image =
| caption =
| location = Aqueduct Racetrack
Queens, New York, United States
| inaugurated = 1953
| race type = Thoroughbred – Flat racing
| website = {{URL|http://www.nyra.com/index_aqueduct.html}}
| distance =1 mile (8 furlongs)
| surface = Dirt
| track = left-handed
| qualification = Three-year-olds
| weight = 123 lbs. with allowances{{cite web |title=Chart of the 2020 Gotham |url=https://www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=AQU&raceDate=03/07/2020&cy=USA&rn=10 |website=www.equibase.com |access-date=5 June 2020 |language=en}}
| purse = $300,000 (since 2017){{cite web |title=Stakes profile |url=https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Stakes&stkid=637 |website=www.equibase.com |access-date=5 June 2020 |language=en}}
| bonuses =
}}
The Gotham Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run in early March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Grade III event with a current purse of US$300,000, it is set at a distance of 1 mile on the dirt. It is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
History
The race is named for New York City, which has been nicknamed Gotham since an 1807 article by Washington Irving.{{cite web |last1=Sheidlower |first1=Noah |title=Why is New York City Called Gotham? A Nickname with a Millennium of History |url=https://untappedcities.com/2020/01/31/why-is-new-york-city-called-gotham-a-nickname-with-a-millennium-of-history/ |website=Untapped New York |access-date=5 June 2020 |date=31 January 2020}} The event was inaugurated in 1953 at Jamaica Racetrack but following the facility's closure was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack for the 1960 season. In 1958, the race was restricted to horses four years of age and older.
The Gotham Stakes is the final local prep to the Wood Memorial Stakes and an official prep race for the Kentucky Derby. The only Derby winner who competed in the Gotham was American Triple Crown champion Secretariat, who tied the track record when winning the race in 1973.{{cite web|title=Kentucky Derby prep winners|url=https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/assets/uploads/Prep_Races__Derby_Winners__2021_.pdf}}{{cite web |last1=Nichols |first1=Joe |title=Secretariat Equals Mark At Aqueduct, Pays $2.20 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/08/archives/secretariat-equals-mark-at-aqueduct-pays-220-colt-runs-mile-in-133.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=6 June 2020 |date=8 April 1973}} Easy Goer improved on this in 1989, setting a track record of 1:32.40 – one of the fastest times ever run in North America on the dirt.{{cite web |last1=Crist |first1=Steven |title=HORSE RACING; Easy Goer Romps |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/09/sports/horse-racing-easy-goer-romps.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=6 June 2020 |date=9 April 1989}}
Since its inception, the Gotham has been competed at various distances:
- 1 mile : 1960–1976, 1978, 1980–2002, 2004–2005, 2018–present
- {{frac|1|1|16}} miles (8.5 furlongs) : 1953–1959, 1977, 1979, 2006–2017
- 1 mile, 70 yards : 1984, 2003
The race was run in two divisions in 1953, 1974, 1975, and 1983.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:32.40 – Easy Goer (1989) (Stakes and track record at 1 mile)
- 1:42.65 – I Want Revenge (2009) (at former distance of {{frac|1|1|16}} miles)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – Jorge Velásquez (1969, 1978, 1980)
- 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1970, 1975, 1991)
- 3 – Jacinto Vásquez (1976, 1979, 1986)
- 3 – Richard Migliore (1985, 2003, 2005)
- 3 – Mike E. Smith (1990, 1992, 1995)
- 3 – Jose Lezcano (2008, 2022, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1989, 1992, 2005)
- 3 – Kiaran McLaughlin (2006, 2018, 2019)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney (1954, 1956)
- 2 – Claiborne Farm (1969, 1992)
- 2 – Locust Hill Farm (1983, 1988)
- 2 – Shadwell Stable (2016, 2019)
Winners
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%" |
| style="width:50px" | Year
! style="width:120px" | Winner ! style="width:110px" | Jockey ! style="width:130px" | Trainer ! Owner ! style="width:25px" | Time |
|---|
| 2025
|Flood Zone |Reylu Gutierrez |1:39.62 |
| 2024
|Deterministic |St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven C. Duncker & Vicarage Stable |1:36.37 |
| 2023
|Raise Cain |Ben Colebrook |Andrew Warren & Rania Warren |1:38.09 |
| 2022
|Morello |Blue Lion Thoroughbreds |1:39.28 |
| 2021
|Weyburn |Trevor McCarthy |Chiefswood Stables Limited |1:38.70 |
| 2020
|Mischevious Alex |Kendrick Carmouche |Cash Is King LLC & LC Racing LLC |1:38.80 |
| 2019
|Haikal |1:35.63 |
| 2018
|Enticed |1:38.24 |
| 2017
|J Boys Echo |Albaugh Family Stables LLC |1:46.34 |
| 2016
|Shagaf |1:45.90 |
| 2015
|El Kabeir |1:45.56 |
| 2014
|Samraat |My Meadowview Farm |1:44.44 |
| 2013
|Pick Six Racing |1:44.09 |
| 2012
|Dr. Kendall Hansen |1:43.84 |
| 2011
|1:44.78 |
| 2010
|Susan Roy & Vinery Stables |1:43.85 |
| 2009
|David J. Lanzman |1:42.65 |
| 2008
|Visionaire |Team Valor International & Vision Racing |1:44.60 |
| 2007
|Cowtown Cat |Gulf Coast Farms & WinStar Farm |1:44.75 |
| 2006
|Like Now |John J. Dillon |1:43.17 |
| 2005
|Survivalist |1:35.61 |
| 2004
|George Weaver |Evelyn M. Pollard |1:35.53 |
| 2003
|Patrick L. Reynolds |Michael Dubb & Mark Doneson |1:40.60 |
| 2002
|1:34.90 |
| 2001
|Raymond Dweck |1:35.14 |
| 2000
|1:34.27 |
| 1999
|Joseph Aquillino |Southbelle Stable |1:34.72 |
| 1998
|Frank Calabrese |1:36.56 |
| 1997
|John DeStefano Jr. |Sidney L. Port |1:34.38 |
| 1996
|Herbert Kushner |1:34.40 |
| 1995
|Helen G. Stollery & Kinghaven Farms |1:36.82 |
| 1994
|Steven W. Young |Marianne Chase |1:36.27 |
| 1993
|Heatherwood Farm |1:36.24 |
| rowspan="2" |1992
|Lure † | rowspan="2" |1:35.63 |
| Devil His Due †
|Lion Crest Stable |
| 1991
|1:34.69 |
| 1990
|B. Giles Brophy |1:33.80 |
| 1989
|1:32.40 |
| 1988
|Charles Hadry |1:34.80 |
| 1987
|1:34.60 |
| 1986
|1:34.60 |
| 1985
|Brian J. Hurst Jr. |1:35.80 |
| 1984
|Bear Hunt |Taylor Purchase Farm |1:40.40 |
| 1983
|Assault Landing |Charles Hadry |1:35.80 |
| 1983
|Chas Conerly |Daniel Lavezzo Jr. |1:36.60 |
| 1982
|Edward Anchel |1:35.60 |
| 1981
|Proud Appeal |Malcolm H. Winfield |1:33.60 |
| 1980
|1:37.00 |
| 1979
|1:43.60 |
| 1978
|Slap Jack |Jerry Frankel |1:38.60 |
| 1977
|Danny Wright |James P. Simpson |Charles Berry Jr. |1:43.60 |
| 1976
|Zen |1:35.60 |
| 1975
|Laramie Trail |1:38.00 |
| 1975
|Singh |1:37.00 |
| 1974
|Stonewalk |Daniel Lopez |Timberland Stable |1:36.00 |
| 1974
|Rube The Great |1:35.20 |
| 1973
|1:33.40 |
| 1972
|Freetex |William T. Raymond |Middletown Stable |1:36.40 |
| 1971
|Good Behaving |Neil Hellman |1:36.00 |
| 1970
|Native Royalty |Happy Valley Farm |1:36.20 |
| 1969
|Dike |1:34.80 |
| 1968
|1:34.00 |
| 1967
|1:35.20 |
| 1966
|Stupendous |1:34.60 |
| 1965
|Flag Raiser |Isidor Bieber |1:36.60 |
| 1964
|Mr. Moonlight |Edith Baily Dent |1:37.20 |
| 1963
|Debbysman |1:34.60 |
| 1962
|1:37.00 |
| 1961
|Ambiopoise |Thomas M. Waller |Robert Lehman |1:35.80 |
| 1960
|John William |G. Auerbach |Merrick Stable |1:36.40 |
| 1959
|Ray Metcalf |Elkcam Stable |1:43.00 |
| 1958
|Oh Johnny |Mrs. Wallace Gilroy |1:43.60 |
| 1957
|George M. Carter |J. L. Appelbaum |1:45.60 |
| 1956
|1:45.60 |
| 1955
|Go Lightly |James McGee |Roslyn Farm |1:46.60 |
| 1954
|1:46.20 |
| 1953 Div 2
|1:44.20 |
| 1953 Div 1
|Laffango |Trio Stable |1:44.00 |
{{refbegin}}† In 1992 there was a dead heat for first.{{refend}}