Iron Honor wears down stubborn foe in Gotham

The $300,000 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday attracted eight three-year-olds but was primarily a two-horse race from start to finish, as odds-on favorite Iron Honor and Crown the Buckeye finished well ahead of their rivals.

Except for a brief interlude approaching the top of the stretch, when Crown the Buckeye opened up a half-length, the pair were separated by only a head through seven of the Gotham's eight furlongs. But it was that last furlong which proved decisive for Iron Honor, who pulled away late to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) prep by one length under Manny Franco.

Making his first run since an impressive debut win on Dec. 13, Iron Honor finished up in 1:37.94 over a track rated good and paid $3.88 to win. He races for St. Elias Stable, Bill Lawrence, and Glassman Racing, and is trained by Chad Brown.

Crown the Buckeye finished 6 1/2 lengths ahead of Right to Party, who has 2 1/2 lengths on Exhibition Only. Balboa, Hammond, Dirty Rich, and Fourth and One completed the order of finish.

"I think he's going to get a lot out of it," said Brown, who indicated Iron Honor would turn in his final Derby prep in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G2) in early April. "He has plenty of stamina. You saw him wear down a stubborn foe today and it looked like he was interested in more distance on the gallop out, so I like seeing that."

Iron Honor earned 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby, virtually assuring himself a spot in the starting gate. Crown the Buckeye earned 25 points, increasing his total to 28 points. Right to Party secured 15 points, Exhibition Only 10 points, and Balboa five points. The latter now has 13 points in total.

Bred in Kentucky by Mike Freeny and Pat Freeny, Iron Honor brought $475,000 at Keeneland September. He's by Nyquisit and out of Orencia, by Blame.

The $194,000 Busher S., a Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifier, was won by Paradise by 3 3/4 lengths over Nycon, who had a neck advantage on Interstatelovesong.

The 1.36-1 favorite off a three-length maiden win at Gulfstream on Jan. 4, Paradise covered one mile in 1:38.53 under Franco and paid $4.72.

"She stretched out to a mile in her last run at Gulfstream," trainer Brad Cox said. "I don't know what she learned from it, being on the lead the whole way, but we'd liked what we'd seen from her over the mornings leading up to this."

Owned in partnership by LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing, Paradise is now 2-for-3. Cox said Paradise would be considered for the $200,000 Gazelle (G3) over 1 1/8 miles on April 4.

"This gives us the confidence to think that she can handle two turns when we ask her," Cox said.

With only five starters in the Busher, the amount of Kentucky Oaks points allotted to the race was reduced by one-fourth. Paradise earned 37.5 points, Nycon 18.75 points, and Interstatelovesong 11.25 points.

Current Yield and Blazing Brat, who rounded out the field, earned 7.5 and 3.75 points, respectively.