Iron Honor looms large in Gotham; Five set for Busher

A sharp debut winner in mid-December, Iron Honor will make his anticipated first stakes appearance in Saturday’s $300,000 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, a Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge series event offering qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers.

Chad Brown trains the exciting son of Nyquist, and Iron Honor heads a field of nine entered for the one-turn mile event. In his lone start, Iron Honor displayed tactical ability, pressing the pace before drawing clear to a 1 1/2-length decision, and the bay colt registered an outstanding 99 Brisnet Speed rating in the six-furlong maiden special weight. Manny Franco retains the mount, and Brown is excited to see the bay colt stretch out in distance.

“He's bred to run longer,” Brown said. “His debut number was one of the fastest in the country for two-year-old colts. I think letting the horse get over that fast number first time out and come together for this will be beneficial for him. He's a good horse. I would expect him to move forward here."

Balboa merits respect following a runner-up in the Jerome S. in early January. Winner of a six-furlong Laurel Park stakes last November, the Brittany Russell-trained colt concluded his juvenile season with a respectable third behind Paladin and Renegade in the Remsen (G2). The speedy son of Not This Time projects to be part of the pace from the innermost post.

While nine were entered, Creole Chrome is expected to be scratched. Other rivals include sprint stakes winner Hammond, third most recently in the Swale S. at Gulfstream Park; Dirty Rich, winner of the 5 1/2-furlong Advent S. at Oaklawn Park two back; Gun Runner S. third Crown the Buckeye, who try to rebound from an unplaced effort in the Lecomte (G3); and last-out maiden scorer Right to Party.

Earlier on the program, five three-old fillies will compete for Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points in the $200,000 Busher S. 

Interstatelovesong, a romping maiden winner at Aqueduct two back, rates as a top contender following a neck second in the Ruthless S. in early February. Ricardo Santana Jr. rides for Tom Morley, and the remaining contestants are exiting races in Florida.

Paradise, who hails from the Brad Cox shedrow, exits a three-length maiden triumph at Gulfstream in early January, and Current Yield ships in for Brown following a first-out maiden tally at Tampa Bay Downs four weeks ago. Nycon, a neck second in the Cash Run S. on New Year’s Day, is one of two for Whit Beckman. He’s also responsible for Blazing Brat, who has switched barns since finishing second in the Sandpiper S. at Tampa in early December.