In a race obscured by heavy fog, Michael Matz trainee Visionaire defeated a field of highly regarded 3 year olds to prevail in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday. The son of Grand Slam was placed towards the rear of the pack for much of the race, but put in a late run to step up and snatch victory from Texas Wildcatter by a nose at the wire.
Saratoga Russell set the early pace by running the opening quarter in :23.78 and a half-mile in :46.37. Saratoga Russell began fading around the 2nd turn, at which point Texas Wildcatter made his bid and took the lead. At one point it appeared that Texas Wildcatter was going to run away with the Gotham, but Visionaire had other thoughts in mind as he fought on with determination in the stretch to prevail with a thrilling late run.
Visionaire finished the race in 1:44.60 and returned $11.00 to his supporters for the win. Texas Wildcatter finished 2nd to complete a rather lucrative $84.50 exacta. Larry’s Revenge wound up in third to top off a hefty $1305.00 trifecta. Roman Emperor got up late for 4th and a small slice of the superfecta.
Giant Moon, who entered the race with a proud undefeated record never looked comfortable and wound up finishing dead last. Saratoga Russell faded to eigth by the time he hit the wire.
I liked what I saw from both Texas Wildcatter and Visionaire. Visionaire in particular should now be considered a legitimate Derby contender with the victory today coupled with his game third place finish to Pyro in the Risen Star. I don’t think he’s quite at War Pass or Pyro’s level, but certainly he deserves to be inched up ahead of the likes of Majestic Warrior and Court Vision when my new 2008 Kentucky Derby rankings come out tomorrow.
For now you’ll need to visit the NTRA website to see the video replay here. If/when it becomes available on youtube I’ll update this post to include the replay.
Edit: It has been confirmed that Saratoga Russell suffered a displaced palate in the race, but should be fine.
As much as I would have like to see Russell win, you know what I hope, now that we’ve seen this race? Is that he doesn’t win the Kentucky Derby, should they choose to place him in it. Reason being, I cannot see Russell winning the Belmont. Not if it were run today anyhow. I always like to see if we’re going to have a triple crown winner every year (don’t most of us?!) Russell can’t beat Pyro at that distance, I don’t think Russell would even be in the top 3 in the Belmont. Much could change between now and the Belmont, but that’s what I’m thinking at the moment.
We’ll see what Thomas has to say coming out of the Gotham. My gut (and I’m just an amateur at this) says that he’s better of sticking to a mile and less. He could be darn fine sprinter for them. Of course, that was his first trip around two-turns so you could reasonably expect an improvement if they stretch him out again, but it didn’t look like he was a fan of the distance today.
Yes a mile or less. If he can’t take two turns by now, he’ll just not be ready. Other horses are already ‘there’ and still improving. You know they ran Russell this far in training before the race, he’s done two turns in training. At race time is not the time to do it the first time if they’re looking at the Kentucky Derby and expect to be a serious contender. There might be more going on with Russell today; I’m looking forward to hearing what Thomas’ feedback is once he gets online.
Are you going to the Preakness this year?
What did I tell you last night………VISIONAIRE! VISIONAIRE! VISIONAIRE!
What an awesome display. I knew Saratoga Russell could not handle him at 1 1/16. I have been tracking Visionaire since he was bought as a yearling at Saratoga. He has been in great hands from the beginning. He has a big heart and never seems to give up even when starting from a terrible post and in terrible conditions.
Nice call Maximus – and way to stay with your pick despite all of us doubting him. Visionaire will have a lofty ranking in my updated Derby rankings due out tomorrow. I agree with you that he showed a lot of ability overcoming the post and the weather. His run against the suddenly uber-horse Pyro in the Risen Star keeps looking better and better considering he wasn’t beaten by much.
Are you kiddin? Yaaaay, Visionaire! (Dang, maybe I should have had money on it, afterall). Oh, I can’t wait to see the replay.
Go to http://www.thebloodhorse.com for replay….it is Awesome!!!
Thanx, Maximus! ;o))) Stupid fog!
The fog makes it even more impressive, He came from out of the fog from way back and ran down Texas W in the stretch…Awesome performance.
Yeah, that was other-worldly today with the fog. Watching on TVG the camera crew had no idea where the horses were for half the race. Suddenly they came out of the clouds and Texas Wildcatter was on top by 4.
Yeah Yeah. I’ll refrain from “I told you so”. Just sayin’ (notice the arrogancy after 1 good guess..lol).
Oh my, I’d forgotten you liked Visionaire. I liked him at first but I totally drank the Kool-Aid about Saratoga Russell. Good job Tamera – see, you’re picking winners already!
I just read on Ron Correll’s blog that Saratoga Russell may have had a displaced palate. If so that would explain him sort of hitting a brick wall on the 2nd turn.
http://blogs.sj-r.com/themorningline/index.php/2008/03/08/visionaire-come-from-out-of-the-fog-to-win-gotham/
And also this link will explain more about what a “displaced palate” is:
http://www.scef-inc.com/duchame.html
TVG – can you watch it online in real time there? I’m looking for an online spot to watch races in real time.
TVG I can only get through Directv (channel 602).
I have a betting account through ebetusa/penn national and when I log in I can get live feed from many of the tracks. Not all of them, but usually between that and TVG I can see what I’m looking for.
https://www.ebetusa.com/
Of course, I’d love to get HRTV, which has the Magna tracks (Pimlico, Laurel, Santa Anita, and Gulfstream Park), but Directv doesn’t carry them here in Hanover. Folks in Maryland with Comcast can get it though.
Hopefully someday they fix that madness and make it easier to see races. This year is about as bad as it has ever been in terms of trying to see the races you want to watch. They’ve made it as difficult as humanly possible.
yep, there was more going on with Russell today, he broke his pallat during the race and couldn’t breathe. Thomas updated us in the original thread!
Yup, it sounds like he’ll be fine, thank god.
Visionaire is one of my Derby horses I am following. I would not count Roman Emperor out though. This is the first time he has come out of the money. And look at the track condition. He is a late developing horse. I think he will be a force later in the year. Some horses are a bit slow developing. The question is will he be good enough by Derby day or even be entered in it. I wish the race was on a fast track so we could have gotten a better idea of the top horses.
With Roman Emperor’s bloodlines I don’t think I’ll ever count him out of anything.
Visionaire looks like a horse that will be peaking at the right time in May. Anyone know where he’s pointing next? I’ve been trying to find that out for my update and haven’t seen it anywhere.
He may race in the Wood next. May 3rd.
Yup, either the Wood or the Blue Grass it looks like.