Horse Racing Bets: 2024 Gotham Stakes At Aqueduct On Road To The Kentucky Derby

Some Kentucky Derby prep races feature a well-known shipper facing horses that have performed well at their home track. But the $300,000 Gotham Stakes, for the second straight year, features a large-scale integration of shippers and a colossal field, making betting Gotham Stakes odds a challenge. Thirteen horses are entered in the one-turn, one-mile showcase at Aqueduct. Post time on Saturday is 5:36 p.m.

Bettors can access the action via FanDuel TV. Brad Cox highlights the visiting trainers, sending four horses in search of the 50-point Road to the Kentucky Derby prize, historically enough for a berth into the Run for the Roses. One of them, Just A Touch, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

Bettors can access the action and a string of impressive undercard races via FanDuel TV. New users getting up to a $200 No Sweat Win Bet with the latest FanDuel Racing promo.

2024 Gotham Stakes Odds

This is reminiscent of 2023 when 14 entries were led by longshot Raise Cain, who routed the field at 23-1. Is there a horse that sticks out here at long odds? Nope. The morning-line favorite has only raced once. There is potential value sprinkled all over this field.

Click on the odds in the table below to bet now, and join TheLines.com free sports betting Discord channel to talk horse racing.

Monitor The Weather

Players will have to watch weather conditions. There is an 85%  chance of precipitation. The amount of rainfall could impact the track surface.

Inclement weather caused the track to be listed as muddy and sealed last year. Deep closers won all afternoon and Raise  Cain came from nearly dead last to win going away

Bettors will benefit by monitoring the outcome of the hour leading up to the Gotham. Weather matters here, at this time of the year, more than at many other tracks.

Gotham Stakes Odds: Past Performances

1. Khanate (30-1)

A bettor can do far worse than this for 30-1. Headed for home in the 1 1/8-mile Withers vying for the lead before fading to fifth at 42-1. Spirited effort, could be improved on a fast track. Should be forwardly placed. Must face El Grande O, who beat him that day.

2. Maximus Meridius (20-1)

Parx racing colt has won twice in three attempts. Doing practically everything asked. Must stretch from 6 1/2 furlongs to one mile. Logical place for connections to see what their horse has. His jockey, Mychel Sanchez, nipped El Grande O for the Withers with Uncle Heavy.

3. Deterministic (9-2)

The most aptly named colt in this race. Rugged, determined run enabled him to pass five horses down the lane to gain a debut seven-furlong race at Saratoga last summer. It happened on a fast track, giving the rally more credence. Going an extra furlong might even be better, despite the stretch-out, as his best stride was late. Should run well again, but faces larger field and added distance. Concern over the layoff too.

4. Facenda (50-1)

Debut at Turf Paradise was a winning one at 5 1/2 furlongs. This is a major step up, but odds like this for a horse with Preakness-winning Oxbow in his bloodline will appeal to some.

5. Deposition (50-1)

That fourth-place finish in the Withers was nothing to sniff at. Ran early, came again at 71-1, and passed two horses after it looked like he’d spit the bit. Not out of the question for a bottom-of-the-exotics piece and bettors would love that at this price.

6. Air Cav (30-1)

Finished fifth in the Champagne and could not win in six-furlong allowance coming back. Second pack it is. Fifth in the Champagne and a distant third of five in the $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield. Toss.

7. El Grande O (8-1)

Game effort in the Withers. Should have won it. Opened up by four in the stretch and then looked heavy-legged before Uncle Heavy stole it from him at the wire. Got the lead that day and looked good in the mud. Has a dull sixth in the slop at the Champagne. Could be live to at least hit the board on a fast or good track.

Kendrick Carmouche is an excellent, underrated jockey. Could fit here. Cuts back to 1 mile from 1 1/8. That will matter if he gets clear.

8. Bergen (9-2)

Did all that was asked with an emphatic closing effort to win the Jimmy Winkfield at 9-2 on an off-track. That was only a field of five, however. Will get money on the Brad Cox training angle and victory over the track, but must add two furlongs and several more competitors. Looks like an improving horse. Will he improve enough here?

Morello won the 2022 Jimmy Winkfield and captured the Gotham in his next race. Food for thought.

9. Eliminate (15-1)

Deterministic blew by Eliminate as though he was standing still in the seven-furlong Saratoga test. Finished third there but has run three more times and broke maiden at 6 1/2 furlongs in February. In the meantime, Deterministic hasn’t run and is getting much shorter odds. This could be a value underneath.

10. Just A Touch (5-2)

The son of Justify, the last Triple Crown winner. Check. Wins his first race by more than four lengths at Fair Grounds in January at 1-2 betting odds. Check. Give an added mark to the track being sloppy, as rain is expected here. Justify won the Preakness in the slop. Check. One of four Brad Cox entries (Bergen, Air Cav and Lightline). Check.

Much to like with his breeding, training and first performance. Has an 89 Beyer, tops in this field. On the flip side, only has one race and might be bet like he actually is Justify.

11. Lightline (8-1)

A decisively beaten third to Uncle Heavy and El Grande O in the Withers. Has notched two seconds and one third since winning his pro debut. Has the profile of a horse that runs under. Bettors won’t mind if they can play that angle with confidence.

12. Slider (8-1)

Speed presence in the San Vicente, setting the pace and being right there at six furlongs in 1:09.76. Ran a game third. One-turn distance helps his speed profile. Will go as far as that takes him. You’d figure someone over-runs him, but he may stay on the board.

13. Capital Idea (12-1)

Broke his maiden at Aqueduct over a sloppy and sealed track at 1 mile. Perfect simulated conditions for a possible victory at a price. Others have been in more expensive company, but he thrived on the off track.

Pace Scenario For Handicapping Gotham Stakes

Could be contentious enough with Slider, Just a Touch, Facenda, and Khanate bothering El Grande O. Race may set up perfectly for Deterministic if you can trust a horse being off six months.

How I’m Betting Gotham Stakes Odds

I will bet this race lightly. We don’t know what surface we will get. But here are some early selections:

Win bet: No. 7 El Grande O.
He rated a little in that Withers speed duel. Any savvy move like that could give him this race.

Exacta Box: No. 7 El Grande O and No. 10 Just A Touch
Best local horse, best Beyer, in small play.

50-cent Trifecta Box: 3-7-8-10
Adds Deterministic and Bergen closing into a field loaded with speed.

Underneath Horses: The 5, 9, 12, and 13 could hit the third or fourth spots. I will find something small for them at post time.

Good luck betting this year’s Gotham Stakes odds!