The Gotham Stakes can put the winner in the field for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. Yet even with those 50 qualifying points on the line, Saturday’s Gotham is not your typical run for the roses prep at this time of year. Contested at a one-turn mile at Aqueduct, the Gotham could provide the necessary points, but may also leave some unresolved question’s about a 3-year-old’s ability to handle the 1 ¼-mile distance on the first Saturday in May.

1. Scorching (10-1 morning-line odds): Makes his first start since October and also his initial try on a dirt track. Seems to be asking a lot of him in this spot.

JOCKEY: Eric Cancel; TRAINER: John Charalambous

2. Normandy Coast (15-1): Gets tested for class and distance here as he makes his stakes debut and races beyond seven furlongs for the first time. Speed figures are a notch below the top contenders.

JOCKEY: Ben Curtis; TRAINER: Eddie Kenneally

3. Calling Card (6-1): Been searching for a spot since failing to fire on a sloppy track in the Lecomte. Career-best effort was at a mile on this track.

JOCKEY: Kendrick Carmouche; TRAINER: Mike Maker

4. Sacrosanct (3-1): Undefeated New York-bred faces open company for the first time. He’s won at a mile on this track and is working nicely for his 3-year-old debut. Should be a main threat.

JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Brad Cox

5. Sand Devil (9-5): Another undefeated New York-bred. He’s 3-for-3, won a stakes last time, and romped in a one-mile allowance here at Aqueduct before that. Figures to be battling up front with Sacrosanct, so the pace could decide the outcome.

JOCKEY: Jose Lezcano; TRAINER: Linda Rice

6. Pagode (30-1): Won by a nose in his lone start, but that was on an all-weather surface in slow time. Others are more appealing.

JOCKEY: Luan Machado; TRAINER: Paulo Lobo

Flood Zone winning maiden race. (Coglianese Photos/Lauren King)

7. Flood Zone (12-1): Debuts for new connections off an impressive win at Gulfstream Park. Can have a big say in the outcome if he takes a step forward here.

JOCKEY: Reylu Gutierrez; TRAINER: Brad Cox

8. McAfee (10-1): Thorpedo Anna’s half-brother has been away since November when he ran second by a head in a starter race at Churchill Downs. Seems on the slow side but we’ll know more about him after this.

JOCKEY: Lane Luzzi; TRAINER: Rick Dutrow

9. Garamond (8-1): Won his debut at Tampa for Chad Brown with a solid effort. Has the breeding to handle the distance and deserves heavy consideration.

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Chad Brown

10. My Mitole (15-1): Has won his last two starts at Aqueduct, though the last one was in a starter allowance race. He’s on the upswing and continued improvement could make him an intriguing possibility.

JOCKEY: Luis Rivera Jr.; TRAINER: Carlos Martin

THE PICK: Garamond

LIVE LONGSHOTS: Garamond, Flood Zone

SUPERFECTA: 9-7-4-5