Photo:

Chelsea Durand / Eclipse Sportswire

Making his first start for trainer Brad Cox, 17-1 long shot
Flood Zone stayed close to the early pace before taking the lead in the final
furlong to win the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes, a one-turn mile on the
Kentucky Derby 2025 qualifying trail.

Previously undefeated Sand Devil (7-5) set the early pace,
establishing modest fractions of 23.86, 47.97 and 1:13.69. All the while, jockey
Reylu Gutiérrez and Flood Zone were lurking. When Sand Devil capitulated in
mid-stretch, Flood Zone passed him to the outside and ran on to about a
three-length triumph.

Click here for Aqueduct entries and results.

The winning time on the fast, main track was 1:39.62 during
a partly cloudy, 52-degree afternoon in New York.

Sand Devil held for second, Garamond (5-1) took third, My
Mitole (23-1) was fourth, and McAfee (11-1) finished fifth in the field of nine
3-year-olds. For those five, the race was worth 50-25-15-10-5 points toward
qualifying for the Derby, virtually assuring Flood Zone a place in the 20-horse starting gate May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Flood Zone returned $37.60, $10.80 and $7.10; Sand Devil
$3.20 and $2.50; and Garamond $5.30.

Originally trained by Victor Barboza, Flood Zone was bought this
winter by Qatar sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s Wathnan Racing, which does
most of its U.S. business with Cox. Bred in Florida, he is by Frosted out of
Curlin mare Curls for Girls. Flood Zone was a maiden winner in his second race
last out in January at Gulfstream Park.

This story will be updated.