By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $300,000 Gotham (G3), Aqueduct – race 9

The Gotham is a [50-20-15-10-5] points qualifier on the road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby. The full field of 14 looks like the kind of race where the winner will be one that works out the best trip. Four of the favored horses drew post positions on the far outside including two from the Brad Cox barn, the undefeated Recruiter and the Jerome winner Lugan Knight. A fast pace is expected with much of that speed coming from the outside post-positions. (5) Carmel Road is one of the horses that was transferred from Bob Baffert to Tim Yakteen so that he can be Kentucky Derby eligible. Carmel Road was last seen running second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) where he was the best of three Baffert runners that day. He is expected to sit in the second flight of horses behind the pace setters which should provide an ideal set-up. (10) Lugan Knight was the winner of the Jerome at Aqueduct in his last start and should get a similar trip as Carmel Road. (13) Eyeing Clover is undefeated in two starts for Brad Cox with two front-end victories including an allowance at Fair Grounds by almost 10 lengths. (14) Recruiter is undefeated in four starts including two stakes races at Laurel Park and Parx Racing. Betting strategy:  Exacta box: 5, 10, 13, 14. Trifecta box: 5, 10, 13, 14.