Balboa targeted by Iron Honor in Gotham

Feb 23, 2026 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Balboa (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Iron Honor, a key race winner on debut at Aqueduct on Dec. 13, is the potential horse to beat Saturday in the $300,000 Gotham (G3), a Road to the Kentucky Derby series prep contested over one mile.

A son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, Iron Honor stalked and pounced his way to a 1 1/4-length graduation going six furlongs. The Chad Brown-trained Iron Honor earned a 99 Brisnet Speed rating.

'I'm excited to get this horse stretched out. He's bred to run longer,' Brown said. 'His debut number was one of the fastest in the country for two-year-old colts. I think letting the horse get over that fast number first time out and come together for this will be beneficial for him. He's a good horse. I would expect him to move forward here.'

Iron Honor finished in front of two next-out winners in that maiden, including Right to Party, who has back to re-oppose in the Gotham.

A strong pace for Iron Honor might be assured due to the presence of stakes winners Balboa, Crown the Buckeye, and Dirty Rich. Balboa placed in both the Remsen (G2) and one-mile Jerome S. in his last two starts, while the Ohio-bred Crown the Buckeye shortens up slightly after a fading eighth in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds. Dirty Rich, winner of the 5 1/2-furlong Advent S. at Oaklawn two back, is a hot-and-cold type whose stamina is questionable on paper.

Hammond, a stakes winner at Gulfstream in November, finished a distant third in the Swale S. last time but is another who might benefit from a hot pace.

The Gotham offers Derby qualifying points of 50-25-15-10-5 to the respective top finishers.

The $200,000 Busher S., a Road to the Kentucky Oaks series prep over one mile, attracted a field of only five three-year-old fillies, and thus will offer a reduced allotment of qualifying points.

The original number of points on offer was 50-25-15-10-5. If all five entries start, only 75 percent of the points will be awarded. If there are four starters, only 50 percent of the assigned points will be awarded.

Interstatelovesong, a neck second in the Ruthless S. last time, might go favored over the stakes-placed Nycon and Chad Brown-trained maiden winner Current Yield. Paradise and Blazing Brat were also entered in the Busher but also in the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream on Saturday.

Post time for the Gotham is 5:18 p.m. ET, while the Busher goes at 1:13 p.m. Both races can be watched and wagered on at TwinSpires.com.