The Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes, scheduled for Saturday, will see ten three-year-olds competing over a one-turn mile. This prestigious race serves as the fifth stop on New York's path to the Kentucky Derby 2025, offering valuable points to the top five finishers. With only one horse previously participating in a graded stakes or on the Derby trail, this event introduces several promising newcomers, including two undefeated New York-bred stakes winners making their debut against open company.

Among the contenders is Scorching, an Ontario-bred who has shown promise at Woodbine and now trains at Belmont. Normandy Coast, another contender, broke his maiden with a front-running effort and won an allowance race at Fair Grounds. Meanwhile, Sacrosanct remains undefeated in four New York-bred races, having dominated by a combined 17 lengths. Sand Devil, also undefeated in three starts, has won impressively at Aqueduct and recently became a stakes winner. Garamond, a Juddmonte home-bred son of Uncle Mo, comes off a debut win for Chad Brown and aims to make a significant impact on the Derby trail.

The field includes several other notable entries. McAfee, bred from a prestigious lineage, made his mark at Churchill Downs and finished second in a starter allowance. Flood Zone, after breaking his maiden in Florida, now faces open company for the first time. My Mitole, despite being a long shot, has shown potential with recent victories. Pagode, a debut winner at Turfway Park, and Calling Card, who excelled in state-bred races, round out the field.

Analysts predict fast early fractions, which could favor horses running late. Among these, Garamond stands out as a top pick, poised to take a significant step forward under Chad Brown's guidance. The Gotham Stakes promises thrilling competition, setting the stage for these young thoroughbreds' journey toward the Kentucky Derby.

In this exciting race, each horse brings unique strengths and backgrounds. While most have yet to face such high-stakes competition, the Gotham Stakes offers a critical opportunity for them to earn points and gain valuable experience. As they line up for the start, all eyes will be on how these promising three-year-olds perform, potentially shaping their futures in the world of horse racing.