Gotham Draws 11

GII Withers S. runner-up Uncle Sigh (Indian Charlie) prepared for Saturday’s GIII Gotham S. with a four-furlong work at Belmont Monday, covering the distance in :47.98. Hours after the work, the colt drew post three in a field of 11 for the 1 1/16-mile race. “I’m super pleased with the way he’s coming into the race,” trainer Gary Contessa said yesterday. “He trained good, had a good work this morning, and we’ll see what happens.” Uncle Sigh will face off against the Rick Violette-trained Samraat (Noble Causeway), who bested Uncle Sigh by a length in the Withers. “There’s no question more racing will help him,” Violette remarked. “If we’re lucky enough to make it to the Derby, we felt two races [Gotham and GI Wood Memorial Apr. 5] would be the way to go and [owner] Mr. [Leonard] Riggio felt strongly about that. In the Gotham, we’ll be racing out of our own stall on a racetrack he’s familiar with. It’s an upgrade as far as competition goes. He has to step up but if you watched the prep races over the weekend, there were a few horses who stepped up, and a lot who didn’t.” 
    Let’s Go Stable’s Harpoon (Tapit) also heads into the weekend with a lot of hype after his near-miss second in Tampa’s GIII Sam F. Davis S. Feb. 1. The gray will break from post 11. “Normally I wouldn’t like the outside draw, but after his last race from post position one, I would say it’s a good post position for him,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of the draw. Of his stable’s other entrant, Master Lightning (Pulpit), Pletcher commented, “We’re hoping Master Lightning shows up with his ‘A’ game. He’s shown in the past he’s capable but he’s been a bit erratic. This would be a good time for him to show up.” Master Lightning will break from post 10.