Kentucky Derby Prep Gotham Stakes 2023 Field, Odds and Picks for Saturday 3/4/23

The NYRA continues its Big A winter meet as the Road to the Kentucky Derby continues with a Championship Series race Saturday at Aqueduct in Queens, NY. The $300,000 Gotham Stakes is Saturday, March 4 and the top 5 finishers earn Kentucky Derby points (50-20-15-10-5).

At the completion of all the Kentucky Derby points races, the top 20 points leaders on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard earn a spot at the starting gate for the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

The Gotham Stakes is also a prep race for the $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 8, which awards 100-40-30-20-10 points to the top 5 finishers. A number of horses are worth watching and wagering on as these 3-year-olds continue to grow and develop in hopes of a chance to run in the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby.

Winning Kentucky Derby Prep Race Picks

Kentucky Derby prep winning picks in February on multiple races, including:
- Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs (Litigate: 3/1)
- Withers Stakes at Aqueduct (Hit Show: 7/5)
- Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita (Newgate: 6/5)
- Holy Bull at Gulfstream (Rocket Can: 5/2)

FanDuel Racing has you covered for the biggest racing days and events, and you can watch and wager on FanDuelTV.

The 1-mile Gotham Stakes is Race 9 on Saturday, March 4. A full field of 14 runners goes to post at 4:56 p.m. ET.

Gotham Field and Odds

1. Clear the Air (30/1)
2. Howgreatisnate (10/1)
3. Mr. Swagger (10/1)
4. Uncorrelated (10/1)
5. Carmel Road (6/1)
6. General Banker (30/1)
7. Transect (15/1)
8. Fort Warren (12/1)
9. Clubhouse (20/1)
10. Lugan Knight (6/1)
11. Slip Mahoney (5/1)
12. Raise Cain (30/1)
13. Eyeing Clover (4/1)
14. Recruiter (12/1)

Gotham Stakes Pick

The $300,000 Grade 3 Gotham Stakes doesn't have any dominant runners, and Arctic Arrogance’s absence due to illness this week has opened the door for more contenders to find the winners' circle. Howgreatisnate (10/1) could be a surprise winner coming off his minor stakes win at Parx in December. He's 4-for-4 and steps up in class, but is capable of running along the lead.

Fort Warren (12/1) was a debut winner as the favorite in October but finished a distant third in a Grade 2 race at Santa Anita is his second start at the end of January. Lugan Knight (6/1) is 2-for-4 and finished in the money in all four starts. He won the minor Jerome Stakes here in January wire-to-wire over favorite Arctic Arrogance.

Slip Mahoney (5/1) is a son of the great Arrogate and a win contender. He broke his maiden here last month going wire-to-wire and now faces winners for the first time after posting a 100 (ESF) speed figure last race. Carmel Road (6/1) completes the contenders and is working very sharply for his 2023 debut coming off a runner-up finish in a Grade 2 race in CA in December.

Pick: Howgreatisnate and Carmel Road to win

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.