Iron Horse Clinches Victory in Gotham Stakes
In an impressive display on Saturday, Iron Horse clinched victory in the Gotham Stakes, a significant race worth $300,000, finishing ahead by a full length. This triumph not only allowed Iron Horse to triumph over seven other competitors but also secured him valuable qualifying points for the upcoming Kentucky Derby on May 2. Ridden expertly by jockey Manny Franco, the colt completed the one-mile distance in a time of 1:37.94, making him the favored contender at odds of 4-5 and paying out $3.88 for the win.
Jockey’s Praise and Race Results
Franco praised the horse’s performance, acknowledging the challenge posed by his closest rival but expressing confidence in Iron Horse’s capabilities.
“He fought hard. I’ve got to give a little credit to the other horse, but I knew that my horse had enough to get it done,”
he stated following the race.
Crown the Buckeye secured second place and collected 25 qualifying points, while Right to Party trailed in third, receiving 15 points for finishing 6.5 lengths behind the winner. Exhibition Only placed fourth, netting 10 points, and Balboa rounded out the top five with 5 points.
Future Plans for Iron Horse
Trainer Chad Brown confirmed that Iron Horse, a progeny of 2016 Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist, will continue his training in New York, with plans to participate in the $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 4. Showing significant promise, Iron Horse has now maintained an undefeated record of 2-0 in his racing career. Franco expressed his satisfaction with the colt’s ongoing development, noting that
“race by race, he’s still learning”
and emphasizing the importance of being aboard such a talented horse at this early stage.
