Gotham Stakes Picks —Betting Preview and Predictions (Feb 28)

A busy weekend on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday and Sunday, with Aqueduct playing host to the G3 Gotham Stakes. This race is most famous due to Secretariat’s win in the contest before landing the Triple Crown in 1973. Find the odds and our picks for the 2026 renewal here.

Odds

Gotham Stakes Recent Winners

Gotham Stakes: Event Information

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Race Preview

An interesting renewal of the Gotham Stakes is set for this weekend, with the leading chances likely to later line up in the Wood Memorial Stakes on their way to Churchill Downs.

Balboa brings respected graded form to the table for trainer Brittany Russell after finishing an excellent third in the G3 Remsen. Should be tuned up for a big run this weekend after taking second in the Jerome Stakes on his return. Obvious claims based on the form in the book.

Kenneth McPeek’s Right To Party broke his maiden at the second time of asking, and takes the immediate jump into stakes company this weekend. The speed figures show that he will need to show more pace to win, but a finish in the money could be likely.

Hammond is a fast improving runner for the Saffie Osbourne yard. The three-year-old improved again to land the spoils over seven furlongs at Gulfstream last time, and the track layout should play to his strengths this weekend. A must for Exotics.

Iron Honor will be the standout contender for many this weekend. The son of Nyquist for trainer Chad Brown will stretch out for the first time after breaking his maiden in eye-catching fashion on debut.

Gotham Stakes Picks

This weekend’s Gotham Stakes isn’t the deepest renewal. Therefore, it will be disappointing if red-hot favorite Iron Honor doesn’t step up to the grade and continue his progression now up to 1 1/16 miles for the first time.