Gotham features a Giant Moon

Unbeaten GIANT MOON (Giant's Causeway) is the top draw in Saturday's $250,000 Gotham S. (G3), which has attracted an aspiring cast of 10 three-year-olds. No graded winners will line up for the 1 1/16-mile event over Aqueduct's inner track.

Giant Moon is very promising. Last seen winning the Count Fleet S. over the inner track on January 5, the Richard Schosberg runner will bring a four-for-four mark into the Gotham, winning his first three outings over New York-bred rivals, including the Sleepy Hollow S. and Damon Runyon S. The bay colt easily handled the transition to open company in the Count Fleet, and Giant Moon will enhance his Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects with a strong showing on Saturday. Ramon Dominguez will return to the saddle.

"We haven't missed a beat with him (since the Count Fleet)," Schosberg commented. "He looks terrific."

The Gotham contestants face the possibility of an off track, with heavy rain in the forecast for Saturday.

"I'm hoping their predictions are slightly off," Schosberg said before adding, "Horses have to deal with adversity."

Team Valor International's VISIONAIRE (Grand Slam) will invade the Big Apple off a third-place finish in the Risen Star (G3) at Fair Grounds. Based in Florida this winter with Michael Matz, Visionaire opened his three-year-old season with an impressive 5 1/2-length allowance score at Gulfstream Park and finished 2 3/4 lengths back of Pyro (Pulpit) last time. Jose Lezcano retains the mount.

"I was very pleased with his race in the Risen Star," Matz stated. "It was his first time around two turns and he only got beat 2 3/4 lengths by some nice horses. Each time he's run, he's improved."

Other contenders include the improving ROMAN EMPEROR (Empire Maker), who exits a runner-up finish in the Whirlaway S., and a trio of runners from the Todd Pletcher stable. SOUTHERN TERMINUS (More Than Ready) captured his career bow two starts back over the inner track for Pletcher and then finished second at Gulfstream behind next-out Sam F. Davis S. winner Fierce Wind (Dixie Union) in a nine-furlong allowance. Stablemate HOLIDAZE (Harlan's Holiday) will bring some buzz into his graded stakes bow after notching a smart allowance/optional claiming tally at Aqueduct last time, and Whirlaway third-placer TEXAS WILDCATTER (Monarchos) will also represent the four-time reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer.

SARATOGA RUSSELL (Trippi) figures to show the way early in his first stakes appearance. He broke his maiden over the inner track by 7 1/2 lengths in mid-December, and schooled Florida-bred allowance/optional claiming rivals on the front end last time at Gulfstream, drawing off to a 10 3/4-length decision. LING LING QI (Yonaguska) will return to stakes company off a sharp allowance score at Gulfstream. LARRYS REVENGE (Vindication) exits a third to Ling Ling Qi, and Fred "Cappy" Capossela S. third-placer LAYSH LAYSH LAYSH (Whywhywhy) rounds out the Gotham field.

In post order, the field is Giant Moon; Laysh Laysh Laysh, Mario Pino; Roman Emperor, Jeremy Rose; Saratoga Russell, Eibar Coa; Southern Terminus, Stewart Elliott; Holidaze, Mike Luzzi; Texas Wildcatter, Norberto Arroyo Jr.; Larrys Revenge, Joe Bravo; Ling Ling Qi, Rajiv Maragh; and Visionaire.

Giant Moon will tote 120 pounds, the rest 116.